Client: SpecSavers Opticians
Contractor: Brymor Contractors Ltd
Value: £230,000 + VAT
Type of works: supply and installation of mezzanine floors and provision of fire protection and staircases.
SpecSavers, the famous High Street optical specialist which has experienced rapid growth and success in recent years, needed to develop a multi-purpose 900m2 mezzanine structure. The specification for RDA required that this design be part of a large new building fit-out to house their expanded production, storage, administration and telephone sales operations.
The 3,300mm high platform was designed in three connected yet discrete segments to house the different functions within the factory, including ventilation plants, production offices and laboratories. The platform can store both raw materials and finished goods.
The unusual horseshoe-shape gallery arrangement enabled the main factory floor to benefit from lots of natural light, combined with a spacious and airy feel. SpecSavers also needed to guarantee, for the long term development of their business, that production machinery and equipment could be easily manouvred.
The mezzanine structure houses office and laboratory accommodation beneath it on all three sides, allowing the ceilings to the various rooms to be supported and suspended directly off the mezzanine structure. The structure was designed with additional services loads to accept this.
The entire structure is half-hour fire protected and incorporates both industrial access and fire escape stairs, in addition to commercial quality staircases for office access from the main entrance.