The Project
This project called for a three-tier mezzanine floor with fire protection and four staircases for our client’s brand-new self-storage facility in Camberwell.
Our Client
Our client for this project was the Big Yellow Self-Storage Facility at Camberwell.
The Big Yellow Group plc is a self-storage company based in Bagshot, England. The company is ranked the largest self-storage company and the leading brand in the United Kingdom and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The Challenge
Often mezzanine floors are a free-standing structure. However, the mezzanine in this project had to connect into the purpose-built Vierendeel steel structure.
Our challenge with this particular installation was to provide a solution that enabled the new floor to fit seamlessly with the current steel frame.
A state of the art 3D laser modelling survey was carried out to ensure the steel building frame could accommodate a mezzanine structure.
Following the survey, USS received the 3D drawing of the existing steel structure on Big Yellow's behalf. Using this drawing, we were able to produce a 3D mezzanine floor design that would connect to the frame as shown on the drawing. This new 3D drawing was then sent over to the client for review. Following this, our quotation sent and accepted by Big Yellow.
A Project Manager was assigned to manage the project in its entirety and installation activity commenced.
During installation, events unfolded rapidly as this coincided with the 2020 coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdown and isolation situation in the UK. The USS team managed to complete most of the project before the site was suspended by Big Yellow. We achieved all this whilst observing government and public health recommendations. We worked very closely with Big Yellow to balance business needs with Government recommendations to limit the spread of coronavirus.
It was a difficult time. However, USS was committed to getting the project as close to completion as possible. We were aware that storage warehouses are an essential constituent of the distribution network; additionally, they were one of the businesses the government had requested additional support from. Big Yellow made the following statement on their website during the coronavirus outbreak:
‘Some of our business customers are distributing medical and other essential supplies, and indeed we include the NHS and other Government departments amongst our customers. We are also assisting food retailers and wholesalers requiring storage of dried foods. In addition, we have customers who have had a sudden need for short term storage triggered by the recent lockdown’.
And Finally
We worked closely with Big Yellow’s in-house construction team to balance the wellbeing and safety of the operatives with business needs, whilst meeting the Government's measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
USS had to be flexible and understanding in challenging times whilst ensuring safe working practices such as social distancing for the safety of all site workers.
We are looking forward to finalising the installation in June 2020.
