The Lifting Tower

Formally known as ‘Kala Sangam’, Simpson completed the redevelopment of the newly named ‘Bradford Arts Centre’. 

The 75 week program has seen an extensive reconfiguration and upgrade to the existing building facilities creating a state-of-the-art, space for artists, audiences and businesses, reconnecting the building and arts centre to the local community.

The project has seen the creation of a new theatre, five dance studios, a new central staircase and a permanent home for volunteer-led community radio station Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB).

The introduction of a new entrance, two new lifts and a dedicated changing place facility now ensures the building is fully accessible for the first time in its 140-year history.

Built in the late 1800s, Endsleigh Convent in Filey served as a convent and holiday retreat for the Sisters of Mercy of the Middlesbrough Diocese.

The goal was to sensitively redevelop the historic structure into five high-end residential apartments, preserving its architectural character while introducing modern functionality and comfort. The project aimed to honour the building’s heritage while adapting it for contemporary coastal living.

The development has seen

• Internal remodelling carried out across all floors to create 5 spacious, open-plan apartments.
• Extensive structural works to support the new layouts and to accommodate a platform lift serving all levels.
• The former chapel underwent a thoughtful extension, transforming it into a unique residence with “upside-down” living:

The redevelopment of Endsleigh Convent successfully blends heritage preservation with modern design, creating a collection of distinctive homes that respect the building’s past while embracing its future. The project stands as a model for adaptive reuse in a sensitive coastal setting.

Simpson have worked with Nestle for more than 25 years, delivering projects across their UK facilities, including Dalston, Ashbourne, Tutbury and York. Our work has included structural alterations, internal remodelling, office refurbishment and fit-out projects, often carried out immediately alongside operational food production lines. By collaborating closely with their food production teams, we carefully plan and execute our works to ensure full compliance with food hygiene requirements and to safeguard product quality at all times.

Nestle Product Technology Centre: Simpson completed the construction works to provide Nestlé with a new Product Technology Centre incorporating a creative office environment and industrial production space to inspire and stimulate the office staff, with ambiance of the building being a mixture of natural light and space, providing a calming dynamic and inspirational setting.

The Construction works for this new purpose built, modern office consisted of a three-storey extension, which houses offices, meeting rooms and creative suites along with a product testing kitchen. This new building has a “wrapping” design, and with the flashes of white and yellow and fully glazed facade providing a bold statement from the first glimpse. This theme continues with the new internally glazed, tree lined boulevard and reception area creating the main focal point linking together the original spaces in the building to the new extension.

Refurbishment works were carried out in the existing building to the office areas, changing rooms, showers, lockers and toilets along with external landscaping and link corridor to the Insight centre previously carried out by Simpson.

Nestle House: We have delivered several phases of work at Nestle House, while the building remained operational. Works have included:

· Strip-out, refurbishment and reconfiguration of office accommodation across five floors

· Upgrades to the existing canteen and kitchen facilities

· Creation of a new wellness suite, incorporating a gymnasium and dance studio

· Remodelling of the outdoor terrace and carpark

The programme was carefully managed to minimise disruption to day-to-day operations, with each area fully completed and handed over before the next phase commenced.

Drawing on our experience, we streamlined the scope and identified value-engineering opportunities across several work packages, including ceilings, partitions, flooring, lighting and M&E services.

· Working with the M&E contractor, we progressed the design to allow off-site manufacture of service installations. These were delivered in cassette form, reducing on-site programme duration and limiting time spent working at height.

· Branding screens originally designed in powder-coated metalwork were re-engineered as sprayed timber panels. Samples were produced for approval, achieving a significant cost saving without compromising appearance.

Nestle Insight Centre: We extended Nestle’s Insight Centre to either side of the existing development.The programme of works included:

· Construction of a new structural steel portal frame with masonry brickwork infill

· Installation of a profiled steel sheeting roof and aluminium windows

· An in-situ cast concrete floor slab

· Creation of a cinema space and supermarket display area

Nestle, Crawley: The conversion and refurbishment of an existing space to support research and development activities, including:

· Catering training facilities

· Kitchen areas

· New office accommodation

All works were carried out adjacent to live operational areas, requiring robust segregation measures and non-disruptive working practices.

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