Every year, we look back at the data from the previous year to have a better understanding of what might have changed and what this might mean for us as we make plans for the future. Our yearly roundup outlines the different types of projects we work on, the geographic distribution of our work across the UK, and the industries in which we operate.
In a short summary, we continued to support all our clients across many new and exciting projects. We have completed more projects than ever and are confident we can deliver successfully despite the economic challenges the industry is facing. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Quartz team and all our clients for their efforts and partnership in 2022, as well as their determination to go even further in 2023.
We celebrated a successful, busy and hard working year at our Company Away Day in the Cotswolds last week!
The day began with updates from our Directors and Company Executive Groups on our year-to-date performance and plans for 2023 and beyond. To cap off an exciting day, there were games and, of course, a party! It was great to see everyone from the London and Manchester offices together.
We look to carry on with the same momentum, energy and passion into 2023 and are prepared for what 2023 has to bring!
An icon, entrenched with history, the 200-year-old Heal’s Building on Tottenham Court Road will be transformed through an extensive refurbishment programme, including repurposing the creation of new vibrant destination entrance, café, restaurant and ancillary spaces.
Repurposed as ‘The Manufactory’, this builds upon the sites historic use as a ‘furniture manufacturer’ to the ‘manufacture of ideas’. Once completed, this iconic building will provide new high quality workspace and collaboration zones, creating a destination to this already prestigious area.
Since 1840, the site has undergone significant development and has a collection of 9 connected blocks of buildings. Our clients KKR and General Projects acquired the building and the surrounding estate in 2021 from Columbia Threadneedle for £112m. We are thrilled to be part of remastering this incredible landmark as Project Managers, Cost Consultants and Employer’s Agents.
Proving that sustainable design can be applied to Grade II* buildings, and BREEAM Very Good and an EPC B will be the minimum standards applied, with aspirations for ‘Excellent’ and ‘A’ with a wider Net Zero strategy set in place for the occupied spaces.
Works on the building have already begun, with an initial 35,000 sq ft of office space completed in July ’22, with the relocation of Heals underway. A further 62,000 sq ft of offices are set to complete in the Q3 2023.
Since founding Costa in 1971 at Old Paradise Street, the site will now be transformed into the next generation of commercial office space, pushing the boundaries of ESG and Sustainable Design. Considering embodied carbon and operational energy throughout the design, a Cross Laminated Timber and Glulam structure will be utilised with terracotta façade, seeking to meet and better the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge for embodied carbon and operational energy.
With goals to set the new ‘norm’ for low-carbon office workspace, whilst supporting the health and well-being of its future occupants, standards incorporated including BREEAM ‘Excellent,’ WELL Core ‘Gold, and WIRED ‘Gold’.
Earlier this year we won two tandem skydives at a charity auction for School of Hard Knocks Charity. Scott Hepworth and Adib Jazireh were our two lucky winners of the tickets and experienced the adrenaline-fuelled tandem parachute jump with The Red Devils last week.
Here’s what they said about it:
"Thank you to Quartz for supporting me through the recent personal tragedy... I felt like throwing myself out of a plane, which, Quartz enabled me to do so was the best way to get on with my life...! I had a lot of fun and was good to get some adrenaline going through my body again!"
- Scott Hepworth
“It’s a massive adrenaline rush as you can imagine. It's an experience that I'll never forget. It’s like nothing else on earth. I loved it!”
- Adib Jazireh
We had a remarkable day participating (and very almost winning!) in Meinhardt’s 5th Annual Charity Touch Rugby Tournament this month. The Quartz team got to compete against other firms in the building and construction industry. Despite an unfortunate start after losing the only two subs the team had, we managed to place second in the cup final with a close score of 2-1.
The event was in aid of Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity that supports over 14,000 16-25 year olds each year. Congratulations to all and thank you to Meinhardt for organising such a great event for a fantastic cause!
Also, a big congratulations goes out to Jackson for his Player of the Tournament award. We loved seeing him rip the pitch up! We look forward to finishing off some business next year!
McAleer & Rushe have been appointed as Main Contractor to a £140m Taxi House development at Westminster.
The landmark co-living development on the banks of the Grand Union Canal will transform the site of the former London Taxi Drivers’ Association HQ. Key to the development is the 346 units, vast internal amenity and external space, a pavilion and high-quality co-working space. McAleer and Rushe have been appointed as the main contractor on behalf of Cheyne Capital. They will be building the new development around the existing depot until they can be re-housed in their new facility.
Once completed, it will include a private pool, dining, massage rooms and a bespoke cinema. The building will range in size and height from 3 to 12 stories, and it will have 23,700 sqft of green, biodiverse roofs, targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating. There will also be 11,840 sqft of workspace specifically dedicated to SMEs. Undoubtedly, it will have a lasting impact on the community.
It is great for us to be involved in such an amazing project as Cost Consultants and Employer’s Agents.
Quartz had a fantastic day participating in the JLL Property Triathlon at Dorney Lake last month. The full-day event, which included a 750m swim down the lake, 21.2km bike ride and 5km run, had over 3500 contestants. We had a great time competing against all the other property professionals taking part.
We had 12 people from our London and Manchester offices compete in both the individual and team relays. The teams finished 110th and 118th out of 431. The individuals put up a great fight, with some finishing in the top 64 out of 774! One of our collegues, Project Manager, Joe Potten has commented:
“The JLL Triathlon was a great exampleof teambuilding. The atmosphere was amazing throughout the entire day and it was great to see us all supporting each other in both the individual and team events. It’s definitely an event I would participate in again!“
Congratulations to everyone and thank you to JLL for putting on such a great event!
Quartz proudly sponsored the LFA (London Festival of Architecture) 2022 launch party, in partnership with DP9 Limited and Blue Orchid Hotels.
The event was held at 55 Broadway, which we have appointed as Project Managers for the building’s redevelopment. The former office building will be transformed into a 515-key luxury hotel, conference venue and leisure facility for Blue Orchid Hotels, part of the Integrity International Group.
The LFA opening party marked the start of the month long festival in June and guests enjoyed a tour of the building from some of the Quartz team, including getting to see views of the skyline from the rooftop!
We’re delighted to announce our Charity of the Year partnership with SOHK (School of Hard Knocks) for 2022, which will help to fund life-changing programmes for both children and adults across the UK. SOHK uses sport to help those who are affected by issues such as unemployment, mental health, and crime, among others. We’re really excited to be working with such a fantastic cause and will be organising and participating in a variety of fundraising events throughout the year with the goal of raising as much money as possible for them (fingers crossed!).
The story and history behind the School of Hard Knocks is pretty fascinating and expressive which is yet another reason why we are very pleased to be partnering with them. In 2007, Ken Cowen, the CEO of School of Hard Knocks, was working for a training provider in Liverpool when Knowsley council approached him for innovative ideas to help young men who had been unemployed for a long time due to the proceeds of petty crime. This journey then created School of Hard Knocks, an eight-week course designed to help these men contribute positively to society by giving them a sense of self-worth and efficacy. The charity now helps over 750 adults and children each year with many incredible success stories. If you would like to learn more about SOHK’s mission or would like to contact them for more information, visit their website here.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Quartz have chosen SOHK to be their ‘Charity of the Year’ – or in this case, two years! Quartz have been along to our End of Dry January lunches for a while now and know us well, but this really elevates the relationship and we look forward to doing some fun stuff together this year and crucially raise some funds to help sustain the work of the charity.”
Ken Cowen, CEO of SOHK
“We recognise the critical role charities play and are thrilled with our new partnership with SOHK, which will allow us to reach and help many adults and children in the UK. We believe that by working together, we can make a lasting impact while also providing our colleagues with a great cause for fundraising across the many exciting events we have planned throughout 2022. We can’t wait to start our partnership and raise much needed funds for SOHK.”
Bill Arnold, Director of Quartz
Last of all, keep an eye on our social media pages for updates on how we are trying to help.
