Willmott Dixon has completed work on Milton Keynes Council’s Civic Offices, in a project designed to help modernise the building and streamline the council’s services by bringing more of its teams under one roof.
The finishing touches have now been added to the 145,500 sq ft Civic Offices following a 60-week project to consolidate two office buildings into one, transforming it to help meet the council’s working requirements.
The building will house 1,650 council staff including many teams who provide face to face services to customers. A new suite of offices including an 80-seat celebration space has been created for the MK Register Office, allowing weddings and other ceremonies on site.
The project included a full programme of mechanical and engineering works, reconfiguration of offices, the installation of new air conditioning, lighting, CCTV and furniture and upgrades to ceilings, flooring and doors.
As well as remodelling these spaces, Wilmott Dixon has undertaken a number of other projects within Milton Keynes since beginning its working relationship with Milton Keynes Council including three new schools, the Brooklands Health Centre and the Milton Keynes Museum.
Since Willmott Dixon started working with the council it has provided support for a number of community schemes, which equates to a monetary value of £8m. This includes supporting over 100 NVQ qualifications and 20 new traineeships for local people as part of the Community Learning MK scheme, as well as welcoming local people to experience working on a building site.
The business also created Hazard Alley, a mock site office and construction site designed to show local school children the potential dangers on site and how Willmott Dixon’s people protect themselves and stay safe.
It also supported a former labourer and Milton Keynes local, Larry Bolah, who launched his own labour agency, Silver Back Labour, after he identified a need for a high-quality labour agency while working on one of Willmott Dixon’s sites.
Peter Owen, managing director, Willmott Dixon, said: “It was important that we were able to create a suitable home for Milton Keynes Council as it looked to futureproof its working environment and we’re proud of the work we have completed at the Civic Offices.
“We’ve received some great feedback on the quality of the space, and the way it has been designed has made for a flexible home for the council as it moves forward. It’s satisfying that this project has helped local people pick up a number of new skills as well.”
Capital development manager for Milton Keynes Council, Glenn Oldfield, said: “The modernised building gives us more opportunities for flexible and agile working, and having more teams under one roof will give us other opportunities to work more efficiently.
“The building has been built to a high standard and we’re delighted with the way it has come together.”
