PRINCES FOOD_

Overview

Works: Factory Unit Reconstruction & Expansion

Sector: Industrial

Service: Architecture

Location: Cardiff

Appointed by the contractor to act as their architects on a design and build project the works initially involved a scheme to enclose the space between two factory units, but then expanded to include the reconstruction and expansion of one of the units, followed by a third phase to expand the first factory and construct a staff car park. The combined schemes include the creation of production space, warehouse and storage space and a three, storey offices. The total floor area of the three phases includes 15,000sq.m. of factory space and 2,200sq.m. of offices, together with the associated service yards, roadways and infrastructure.

The building comprises steel frame structure with a 12.5m eaves, clad in composite roof panels and built, up wall cladding in three shade green bands. Internally the walls are lined with food safe metal sheeting and Quadcore FoodSafe panels are used to subdivide the factory floor, providing hygienic, fire resistant and thermal separation.

Rapid action screens and loading bay doors allow fork lift access between areas and dock levellers are used to receive and dispatch, raw materials and finished product.

All of the floors are power floated concrete and the factory floors are laid to falls to ensure rapid run off of spills or wash down from production machinery. Ceramic tiles and resin finishes are used to ensure food safe rating, whilst careful detailing of all junctions was used to avoid the creation of dust traps.

The works had to be carried out whilst the factory and adjoining areas remained in production and in such a way as to ensure that the product remains uncontaminated.

And so as not to obstruct delivery or product movement routes. All of which required continual cooperation and liaison between the client, clients design team, contractors and contractors design team, with changes having to be designed, detailed and implemented at short notice and within restricted time periods.