HMS Belfast success flies the flag for Nottinghamshire businesses

A project which saw four Nottingham companies design and build the new visitor centre for London's iconic HMS Belfast, part of Imperial War Museums, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.  

CPMG Architects and Focus Consultants have been selected as finalists in the Tourism and Leisure category of the RICS Awards and will be attending an awards ceremony in London on 30 April 2015 on behalf of project partners Couch Perry Wilkes and Price & Myers.  

The RICS Awards selects the very best inspirational initiatives in land, property and construction and the environment and recognises the very best work across the capital city.  

HMS Belfast's new visitor centre and Quayside Pavilion opened in 2013 to mark its 75th anniversary combining better access for schools and group visits with a cutting edge rooftop bar and cafe.  

Nick Gregory, director for CPMG Architects said: "We're absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for this award and to be recognised for our designs for the iconic HMS Belfast visitor centre. It's not every day you're asked to bring your expertise to a London landmark on the River Thames, so this project was really something special. We're proud to be part of the four-strong team made of Focus Consultants, Couch Perry Wilkes and Price & Myers to fly the flag for Nottingham and keep part of our heritage alive for the tourism industry." 

Eleanor Clarke, associate at Focus Consultants also commented: "We're so proud to have project managed an expert team from Nottingham which transformed HMS Belfast on behalf of  Imperial War Museums. The improvements have seen the Second World War Royal Navy Warship become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the capital city.” 

The visitor centre was transformed to include a ground floor cafe and dramatic rooftop bar as part of its reopening in 2013 in conjunction with the ship's 75th anniversary.  

The Nottingham project team is up against seven other finalists in the tourism and leisure category including HM Tower of London, The Glass Mill Leisure Centre, British Museum World Conservation and Exhibition Centre, Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, New Pavillion Portico at The Kia Oval, Lambeth, Beefeater Gin Visitor Centre in Lambeth and Terminal 2, The Queen’s Terminal. 

The award’s eight categories are: building conservation, commercial, community benefit, design through innovation, infrastructure, regeneration, residential, tourism and leisure. The event will be taking place at the Lancaster London Hotel and will be hosted by comedian Mark Watson. 

Find out more about the award here: http://www.rics.org/uk/training-events/networking/rics-awards-2015-london/london/

Project manager Focus Consultants and architects CPMG team up on HMS Belfast project

Four Nottingham companies have played a pivotal role in designing and building an impressive new visitor centre for Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

Focus Consultants project managed the development on behalf of IWM (Imperial War Museums), having previously undertaken the feasibility study for the new Quayside Pavilion and given funding research support for the scheme.

Architects CPMG designed the striking new centre which has transformed the entrance to the iconic London landmark on the River Thames.

Other members of the project team were Couch Perry Wilkes, who handled the mechanical and electrical engineering aspects, and structural engineers Price & Myers.

The new Quayside Pavilion features improved entrance facilities, a ground floor café and shop and a dramatic rooftop bar. Its opening comes 75 years after the launch of HMS Belfast, one of the most significant surviving Second World War Royal Navy warships of her type, and now a museum based between Tower Bridge and London Bridge.

“HMS Belfast is an important part of UK heritage and a key tourist attraction, and we are proud to have been a part of the team that has given this museum ship a stunning new entrance centre,” said Mike Lee, associate at Focus Consultants, which is based at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and has branches in London, Leicester, Lincoln and in Boston.

Focus has worked on significant heritage sites across the country, and is currently project managing a prestigious multi-million pound redevelopment at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, and is on the framework agreement to develop and deliver temporary exhibitions at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

 Richard Flisher, director at CPMG, said: “We’re delighted to have successfully completed such a high profile second project for The Imperial War Museum, not many projects are built on stilts in the Thames! We plan to further expand our portfolio of projects in the London area and in pursuit of this aim we are already refurbishing the National Autistic Society Headquarters in Islington, we have just received planning consent for the £18m Quest Academy in Croydon and have recently commenced work on a major waste to energy project in the Thames Estuary.”

The Quayside Pavilion replaces an entrance structure which had been in place 20 years. The redevelopment will improve access for groups, schools, corporate clients and service deliveries via a new gangway. Its new dramatic roof top café-bar allows visitors to enjoy the stunning views of the historic ship and surrounding London landmarks, including Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and City Hall.

Focus Consultants carried out several different roles on the HMS Belfast Quayside Pavilion scheme, including business case and funding research, the options appraisal/feasibility study, and acted as project manager, project co-ordinator, contract administrator and BREEAM assessor.

For more information visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk