Gilbert-Ash Fit-Out completes Colombo project worth £5 million
Wednesday 19th October 2016
Gilbert-Ash’s Fit-Out team has spent 19 months in Colombo, in Sri Lanka working alongside the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to complete a co-location project.
Due to extensive termite damage to the building, a full internal strip out to the premises of the British High Commission office was required. Gilbert-Ash made preparations and assembled their team to begin the refurbishment process, in Colombo.
The project saw a complete office fit out which included both internal and external works to the building. The internal works that were carried out included an office rewire, and a new air conditioning plant and installation. It also included the construction of secure walls, airlock doors and glazed screens. External works included a new PAS-rated airlock and secure gate, alterations to the BR6 secure perimeter walls, and the new tennis court resurfacing.
Working away from home is nothing new for Gilbert-Ash, having previously worked in 40 different countries, including Australia, Kosovo, Germany and even as remote as the Ascension Islands. Gilbert-Ash’s quantity surveyor for this project, Matthew Martin spoke about his experience and time working away from home; Matthew said, “This was an exciting project to be a part of, not only for the work involved, but being able to spend a considerable amount of time in Colombo was an experience in itself. The different cultures and nature of the people in Sri Lanka was vastly different to home. The hot and humid monsoon climate also added to the challenge of delivering this project.”
The Gilbert-Ash team had to face many challenges that can occur when working in a foreign country. From handling the language barrier between the UK site staff and the local staff to adjusting to the limited materials that were available locally. A large part of this project involved advanced logistical planning, due to materials being shipped from the UK to Sri Lanka, which normally took 6 weeks to arrive. This had to be factored into lead in times, and carefully planned out by the Gilbert-Ash team.
The co-location project was unique due to the building being a secure site. The embassy office was a secure environment which had strict procedures put into place. There were background checks carried out on all staff before they were granted access. Any deliveries had to be booked, and FCO guards notified in advance. Matthew commented on how he and his team worked with the FCO to maintain their security procedures, “As the building was a live site, we constantly had to uphold the current levels of security in terms of access to certain areas. We worked collaboratively with the embassy staff to reduce any interruption caused to the everyday business of the High Commission.”
David Daly, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and to the Maldives, said; “I wish to thank Gilbert-Ash for the great work which it did in renovating the premises of the British High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Thanks to this work, my colleagues and I of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka were able to co-locate with the High Commission.
For the EU Delegation this move was very important because we are now able to benefit from being together in an excellent work environment, while previously we were split between two buildings.
Over the past months some of my colleagues and I were in close contact with the Gilbert-Ash team renovating the building. They proved to be a highly competent team and they were ever helpful as plans evolved. In addition, they were a very nice group to get to know. Today my colleagues and I benefit from their high quality work. For all of this I would like to thank and congratulate you in equal measure.”
