New Admin & Welfare Office Block for DEFRA

A Lakeside Site on the Floodplain

The new admin and welfare building was to be installed close to a lake and an active boatyard at Caversham Lakes, so flood risk had to be addressed from the very start of the design. Cotaplan designed the foundations to sit on a concrete raft, which spreads the weight of the building evenly across the ground and raises its level above the floodplain. The result is a practical modular office and welfare facility that is protected against flooding for the long term.

Working Under the Direction of KPS

Cotaplan acted as sub-contractor on this project, working under the direction of our client, KPS. KPS asked our team to manage the internal fit-out under their supervision and to complete it within four weeks of the building being placed in position. We delivered to that programme, achieving a smooth handover within the required timeframe and receiving numerous compliments from both KPS and the user group, DEFRA.

Scope of Works

As a full design and build modular building package, the works included:

• Foundation design, including a flood-resilient concrete raft
• Detailed internal, M&E and elevation drawings
• A single-storey, steel-clad building
• Suspended ceilings
• Full M&E design and installation
• Decoration of plastered walls
• Floor finishes

Planning a new office, admin or welfare building? Contact our team to discuss your project.