An eight-month project to futureproof the North East headquarters of a major holiday brand has been completed by one of the region’s newest independent firms of building surveyors.
Lantern Building Consultancy was chosen to design and manage the £2.5m refurbishment of the building that Parkdean Resorts has used as its base for the past 25 years – without disrupting day-to-day operations for its 350 strong team.
The 36,000 sq.ft space at Gosforth Business Park spans three floors and the aim of the investment was to create a vibrant and efficient workplace complete with multi-functional spaces for optimum flexibility.
Lantern Building Consultancy director Martin Smith explained: “Having grown extensively over the last quarter of a century within the building, Parkdean Resorts is a very industrious organisation. It was crucial that we minimised disruption for the team over the course of this extensive project, while ensuring the space we created would be stimulating, and meet the practical operational needs of the individuals using it.
“We are very proud of the results and are in discussions with the management team at Parkdean Resorts with regards to further projects.”
A phased approach was implemented by Lantern so that each floor of the building became the focus of the work at different points, thereby enabling Parkdean’s staff to continue performing their day-to-day duties.
As a result, in addition to updates to heating and cooling systems, and the introduction of a more environmentally-friendly LED lighting system, team members can now take advantage of a new subsidised cafeteria with flexible seating that also provides a multi-functional space for events. This encapsulates the emphasis on efficiency that has been applied throughout the building, as staff can now remain on-site for their lunch should they choose to do so, with no requirement to travel elsewhere.
Team members who do choose to travel, and those commuting by car or by bike can enjoy the use of new electric vehicle charging stations and secure cycle storage, while communication has been made more effective via the repositioning of departmental spaces.
All of this has been additionally complemented by new furniture and branded signage, as well as a new booking system to support audio-visual meeting options.
David Lodge, property director at Parkdean Resorts, added: “The refurbishment of our headquarters marks a significant milestone for our business. This investment reflects our commitment to creating a comfortable and collaborative environment that supports our teams. By enhancing our workspace, we’re not only improving the experience for our people, but reinforcing the strong foundations that enable us to deliver exceptional holidays for the millions of guests visiting our 65 award-winning holiday parks every year.”
Lantern Building Consultancy offers a full range of technical services to investors, landlords, tenants, consultants and developers.