As part of the build-up to the 2015 Contractors Awards, the shortlist in the Interior Fit Out category has been announced. The Awards, which are open to any FIS member with contractual responsibility for the project, are designed to encourage high standards in terms of workmanship, materials and design in the creation of a total environment.

The Interior Fit Out category is the only one as part of the Awards that is shortlisted. Competition in this category is fierce, as expected, and the quality of installation exceptional, making the task of choosing the shortlist a very difficult one. Prior to deciding the winners in the three sub-categories of Offices, Retail and Leisure, and Other, each shortlisted business will be visited by Dale Sinclair, director of technical practice at AECOM.

The three Interior Fit Out category winners, along with those from the six other categories of Ceilings, Partitioning, Drywall Construction, Specialist Joinery, Operable Walls and the Judges’ Award, will be announced and presented at the President’s Lunch on 9 June at the Dorchester Hotel, London. The Project of the Year award, which is chosen by FIS judges from the winners of all categories, will also be revealed at the event.

Here we take a look at this year’s shortlist entries in the Interior Fit Out category:

Offices : 

Paragon Interiors Pg20 Awards1Accountants PKF Cooper Parry appointed Paragon Interiors Group to radically transform its new 26,000 sq ft home, seeking an environment that would bolster the company’s culture and shatter the stereotypical accountant image. Five themed ‘feature rooms’ for internal and external meetings were introduced to create different settings and atmospheres, and the principle of ‘space for everyone’ means that individuals’ preferences are catered for throughout. By focusing on the use of space and examining workflows and patterns, Paragon Interiors helped to stimulate every business facet through intelligent and innovative design.

QOB Hanover Square London Pg20 Awards2For QOB Interiors, the challenge was to sub-divide an open plan space into stylish offices, meeting rooms and a reception area for London property investment company Helical Bar. High acoustic performance partitions and barriers were installed and M&E modifications implemented to suit the new layout. A contemporary glazed system was installed on the main floor using slim profiled sections and the reception area benefits from a bespoke joinery wall and ceiling feature finished with specialist paint and brass trim.

Paramount Pg20 Awards3A strong theme of science and nature runs through Paramount Office Interiors’ development for the Life Sciences Hub in Cardiff. The main open plan section combines informal ‘drop-in’ areas with more formal group rooms. Identified as ‘areas of activity and collaboration’, designated spaces have been created including a coffee bar, a soft seating area and a Multi Media Pod: a bespoke element encased in charred oak with soft leather bench seating and an interactive media screen table top. The science and nature theme continues with the Hub logo proudly placed on a preserved moss wall alongside silver birch timbers in the reception area.

Retail and Leisure:

Castletech Abercrombie Kids Pg20 Awards4Castletech Construction was contracted by American clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch to strip the interior of its Savile Row Kids store back to a grey box ready for refurbishment. With Grade II listed status, Castletech focused on restoring the building’s historical features, including plaster and timber mouldings. In addition to plasterwork, Castletech designed and installed a six- and a three-storey staircase, installed structural floors, walls and a new lift shaft, and carried out a complete fit-out including millwork, doors, panelling and floors.

Dominion Theatre London Pg20 Awards5As the main contractor for the extensive refurbishment and restoration of the Dominion Theatre in London, Hayles and Howe took responsibility for returning the Grade II listed theatre to its former glory. By combining original techniques with modern technology and sustainable materials, Hayles and Howe undertook the delicate process of restoring the original intricate plasterwork features and cornicing in the main auditorium, on the box fronts, stalls and circle walls, and on the Proscenium Arch. The teams worked creatively on-site to skim walls and ceilings, make moulds and cast plasterwork.

SMC Project Services - Mint Velvet York Pg20 Awards6SMC Project Services was the fit-out contractor for fashion retailer Mint Velvet’s first two-floor store, in York. Designers KKD incorporated existing listed building features into the 2,700 sq ft store theme, and SMC Project Services focused on creating a balance between the client’s sophisticated grey branding with new design features, such as the spacious second floor with its personal shopping area kitted out with large mirrors and modern seating. The central spiral staircase was introduced to create a prominent visual feature, bringing together the elements of the shop design: timber, metal, marble and soft furnishings.

Other:

Pexhurst Services Biscuit Factory Pg20 Awards7Pexhurst Services was instructed to completely remodel the second-floor space of K Block at the Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey, creating 15 offices and studios of varying sizes. To expose existing raw brickwork and showcase the building’s heritage, the internal walls were shot blasted and sealed to achieve an industrial feel. Exposed M&E services and an epoxy floor were installed to complete the look. In the same development, Pexhurst Services demolished the 1950s facade of the Mint Building to reveal the original arched framework and introduced a double-height space surrounded by an open balustrade to provide a clean and elegant finish.

The Interior Fit Out category is sponsored by SAS International