Integra Buildings has completed construction of the £1.1million, state-of-the-art rehoming and education centre at the RSPCA animal shelter in Radcliffe-onTrent, Nottinghamshire. The centre will provide greatly improved facilities for staff, animals and visitors who want to offer an abandoned pet a forever home. In addition, a new education suite will help members of the community, and especially young people, learn about the centre's work.
Working to plans drawn up by Williams Architects, the Integra team designed and built the 24 modular sections that make up the new animal centre. Once completed, the units were transported by lorry to the Radcliffe site, where they were carefully craned onto foundations and assembled. With all the modular units in place and expertly connected, the building was fitted out and decorated to create a showpiece facility.
"We've really enjoyed working on this project," says Gary Parker, Integra Buildings' Managing Director. "Our superb team puts a great deal of pride and hard work into every job, but having so many animal lovers on the staff means this has been one of our most enjoyable projects. I think that shows in the finished building. Projects like this go to show that, far from the outdated prefabs image, our modern, bespoke modular buildings are the way forward for the construction industry."
Integra delivered the project for Williams Architects and is the latest in a series of successful projects that the companies have worked together on. Rachel Jenkins, Project Architect from Williams Architects, said: "We decided to go with a modular build because, with cost in mind, we were able to achieve a higher quality of design within budget than with a traditional build. It also helped minimise disruption for the RSPCA Radcliffe team. It was a big plus to be able to lift the sections in.
"It's far from a typical style of modular building. For example, we incorporated roof lights along the ridge of the building, which created a light and airy interior. We were also able to add design features such as backlit animal cut-out shapes on the front of the building, and paw prints embedded into the floor to guide visitors. All of this provided a challenge in terms of the modular build, but the Integra team were enthusiastic and innovative in finding solutions."
The Radcliffe Animal Centre is an independent charity and financially independent from the national RSPCA. The new building is the culmination of a programme of investment over the past decade to replace outdated facilities, beginning with accommodation for the animals in the centre's care. Mike Marriott, Technical Director at Integra Buildings, added: "This design pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved within a factory build, including pitched, vaulted roof sections with orangery-style roof lights, which were all factory-finished in modular sections.
"Coupled with a perpendicular-build, two-storey section, this complemented the design. Considering the intricacies involved, the fact that all of the modular sections connected accurately on site is a great testimony to skills of our design, manufacturing and installation teams. Essentially, this is a permanent building which has been constructed offsite to accelerate the programme and has provided a showcase building which the RSPCA Radcliffe team is delighted with.
" Centre Manager Ella Carpenter, said the RSPCA Radcliffe team were hugely impressed with the quality of design, build and materials, saying: "We went for a modular building because of speed of delivery of the project and to ensure minimal disruption to our normal operations and the welfare of the animals. We're so pleased with how it has come together. It's a highquality building with lots of impressive architectural features. It also looks great, which is important as we're a gateway building off the A52 leading into the village of Radcliffe." Work is now under way to connect services and prepare the centre for use before it becomes operational by the summer.
For more information visit: www.integrabuildings.co.uk
