COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell continues to cement its reputation as a leading higher education specialist in Oxfordshire, delivering projects for both the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University.
Currently on site at the Henry Wellcome Building at the University of Oxford, Stepnell is progressing a £3.3 million refurbishment to modernise the specialist molecular physiology and particle imaging laboratories, due to complete in September.
With delivery taking place across a live and fully operational environment, the project has involved close collaboration on construction methodologies with university stakeholders, including the Nuffield Department of Medicine, and project partners including Gleeds and TMD. To avoid contamination to sensitive scientific apparatus including electron microscopes, Stepnell is carefully decanting lab equipment as its progresses the refurbishment through the laboratories.
Mark Knowlden, senior project manager at Stepnell, said: “It is incredibly rewarding for our team based in Wantage to be supporting a nearby institution that is world-leading in education and research.
“With a proven track record in delivering live refurbishments, laboratory upgrades and sensitive heritage work, our collaborative approach, local investment, and technical expertise enables us to deliver complex refurbishments that importantly remain on time and cost effective.”
70% of spend on the Henry Wellcome project has been directed to local supply chain businesses within 30 miles, as well as five local employees hired or retained on the project. One of the beneficiaries included the Stepnell team delivering an initiative with Longworth Primary School, using former laboratory equipment and £1,100 of donated supply chain materials to create a mud kitchen for pupils, delivering a 30% social value return on investment.
Bolstering the complete construction partner’s expertise in Oxford, Stepnell also previously completed a series of summer works last year for Oxford Brookes under the Pagabo framework, including a £805k refurbishment of teaching spaces at its flagship John Henry Brookes building, as well as a £350k project to realign fire containment and modernise ventilation systems in the Gibbs Building.
Neil Ward, assistant director of capital projects at Oxford Brookes University, said: “The creation of two large teaching spaces within our John Henry Brookes Building has been an important project for the University. As part of our Oxford Campus Vision, we are in the process of bringing together our Oxford-based activity on the Headington Campus and these high-quality spaces and improvements to the Gibbs building have helped to ensure we continue providing an excellent student and staff experience.
“Our campus spaces need to respond to the evolving needs of the University’s community and the rapidly changing world of education. We are pleased to have worked with Stepnell on this project as they have helped to make this a reality and understood the importance of ensuring
work was completed in time for the 2024/25 academic year.”
Looking ahead, Stepnell has also started work on site for the £1.1 million refurbishment of the Townsend Building at the Clarendon Laboratory at the University of Oxford.
To find out more about Stepnell, visit www.stepnell.co.uk.