Medical Research Cold Storage

Background

CREST were invited by the project’s main contractor to tender for the turnkey cold room package that formed part of a new cancer research and treatment centre in central Manchester. Spanning ten storeys, the vast building required cold storage facilities for drugs and biocultures across four levels.

Process

The package required the supply and installation of three dual-compartment stores and four separate chillers and freezers within the building, which included the envelope build, refrigeration, flooring and lighting. Freezer temperatures needed to be at -20°C and chiller temperatures at +4°C.

CREST’s team were pivotal in providing guidance and support on the room specifications to both the contractor and the architect throughout the contract negotiation process.

Project Delivery

Due to the size of the building and the different working locations for our team, loading procedures to get materials and plant to the necessary levels were complex. A small goods lift was available to be booked for use by contractors on site, so required thorough planning from our team to ensure our works schedule was not impacted by loading delays.

Used to the challenges of large-scale contracts, the team demonstrated flexibility as the construction programme frequently changed, while working systematically alongside other trades on site to co-ordinate installation activities.