Contract: JCT Standard Building Contract 2016 without Quantities
Value: £3,660,000
Duration: 43 weeks
Completed: March 2018
Project Manager & Cost Consultant: MESH
Structural Engineer: DBK

“J.Coffey delivered a strategically important and technically complex building for MAHLE Powertrain to a high standard. They maintained a professional approach throughout the 15-month project and worked effectively in collaboration with our specialist contractors. They respected the confidential nature of our business and worked closely with our internal team to solve technical and commercial problems without undue delays.” Simon Reader, Director, MAHLE.

This new build project has formed a new 4WD climatic Real Drive Emission (RDE) vehicle test facility, including a sensitive pressurised chamber, which has have both climactic controls and altitude testing capabilities – the first in the UK. It has provision for future expansion for a second chamber.

J Coffey Construction secured this project following a competitive tender process and our subsequent proactive approach to a value engineering exercise included the introduction of specialist ground improvement techniques utilising Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC). This resulted in a reduction to the potentially expensive cart away of the contaminated soil from this existing car park site had traditional substructure design been taken forward. Ultimately this enabled MAHLE to secure group funding to proceed with the project to an agreed budget and build out the office floors as well. The building has become the eminent emissions testing facility for MAHLE in the UK and is also the UK headquarters for the global MAHLE Powertrain who are at the forefront of research, development and testing of powertrain capacity and emissions worldwide.

Aside from the state of the art testing capacity the building includes a reception area with an impressive polished concrete floor and boasts an iconic envelope design consisting of featured curtain walling, composite cladding and the impressive black monolithical façade at roof level. The exibility of J Coffey Construction to work alongside MAHLE’s own specialist contractors which install the dyno gear and test cell plant as well as the articulate and specific analysing equipment was a major factor in the success of this project.