Case study — Social Housing
Corbett House Retrofit
Refurbishment of a 14-storey high-profile scheme, delivered with residents in occupation throughout.
- Bristol City Council
- Social Housing
- Barton Hill, Bristol
- £3.2m
- 14 storeys
Background
This £3.2m project with Bristol City Council involved the refurbishment of Corbett House, a 14-storey high profile scheme in Barton Hill, Bristol.
Works provided included the removal of the old cladding system, the installation of new external wall insulation, the replacement of external windows and all communal fire doors, and subsequent additional facilitatory works such as structural repairs and grounds works. Throughout the project, residents remained in occupation.
- Cladding
- Doors & Windows
- Structural Repairs
- Groundworks
- Coordination
Delivery approach
Synergize collaborated with key suppliers and subcontractors to complete this project to the highest standard. The EWI system installed to the building was provided by K Systems, and we engaged structural engineers, architects and specialist designers to ensure compliance with all safety and fire regulations.
Our experienced project managers steered the programme from pre-start to handover, ensuring all works stayed in budget and were completed within the required timescales.
Challenges & solutions
01 Limited on-site storage
Given the tight urban conditions surrounding Corbett House, on-site storage for materials was minimal. Synergize and K Systems managed this by implementing a just-in-time delivery schedule. This ensured materials arrived as needed without overwhelming the restricted site.
02 Mixed construction
The mix of steel frame and masonry construction, as well as structural issues identified during surveys, posed significant challenges. We engaged structural engineers to remediate issues, and used detailed technical designs to ensure a consistent finish across different sections of the building.
03 Material supply management
Long lead times for mineral wool insulation posed a potential delay. Weekly planning meetings ensured continuous material availability, preventing any disruption to the project schedule.
Project success
Due to our efficient delivery, we completed the project 11 weeks ahead of schedule.
- Structural integrity restored, fire safety enhanced and thermal efficiency improved
- Corbett House became a more comfortable and visually improved living environment
- Residents remained in occupation for the full programme