Faithful+Gould and Ridge have won work on contrasting schemes in Gloucestershire. F+G's project is a far cry from its recent project wins, which include a meaty $1.5bn (£861.77m) plant construction scheme for chemicals producer Huntsman BASF in Shanghai. This latest win is an altogether more refined project to transform an historic hat shop in Tewkesbury.

F+G is project managing the job, which will see the grade II listed building converted into a tourist information centre. Work on the timber framed structure, which is on English heritage's Buildings at Risk register, will need to be highly sensitive to its historic significance.

F+G has found paint decoration dating back to the 17th century, which will have to be delicately preserved. English Heritage has stipulated that all existing materials must be retained wherever possible.

F&G has brought in a flock of paint specialists and historic building consultants to advise. The project for Tewkesbury Borough Council is worth around £1.8m and due for completion in 2007. Down the road in Dursley, Ridge has worked on a contrastingly contemporary project - a state-of-the-art library.

The building is in the centre of the traditional market town and aims to help the library buck the trend of being under-used and forced into closure.

Ridge acted as architect, QS, PM and M&E advisor. The building's design is aimed at encouraging visitors through its curious shape and transparent entrance. Images are projected onto the front of the building of artwork provided by the international glass artist Colin Reid.

The scheme is part of the town's regeneration and has been fitted with emerging technologies to attract all age groups, especially non-traditional library users and children aged 12-18 years.

Source

QS News