York St Johns University, The Creative Centre
York, England
University of Brighton, Mithras House
Brighton and Hove, England
Project Summary
Mithras House, on the Moulsecoomb Campus of The University of Brighton, is now home to the School of Humanities and Social Studies. The building underwent refurbishment of two floors, including upgrades to external windows and doors. Redesigning the first and part of the second floor has provided an inspiring environment for students and staff and offers versatile amenities that can benefit other academic departments.
Enabling works were required, including stripping back the internal areas to a shell and removing asbestos, which was completed ahead of the main contracted works. The refurbishment scope included the remodelling of internal spaces for offices and teaching facilities, new M&E services, and reinstatement of fire-stopping compartments lost due to asbestos removal works.
MGAC's Role
MGAC provided project and cost management services with the primary goal of creating a building that aligns with the University’s educational mission while offering welcoming, accessible facilities to encourage broader participation.
The work included internal refurbishment and remodelling of the ground-floor classrooms and corridor to provide three new Business School training rooms. It also consisted of the demolition of internal partitions, new glazed partitions, mechanical, electrical, and IT infrastructure, new finishes, and signage.
Project Challenges
During the refurbishment, previously unknown issues were discovered. After demolition and the asbestos removal phase had been completed, asbestos was found in the steel beam coating. These unforeseen site conditions added time and cost to the project, which had already struggled with a tight budget and limited contingency. This meant close liaison between MGAC, the University, and the principal contractor was crucial to ensure the refurbishment areas were adequately set up to the specialist fit-out terms with early access to the building. MGAC also collaborated with the incumbent sub-contractors, which required close liaisons with them at every stage.
Project slippage had knock-on effects. The refurbishment of Mithras House formed part of a programme of works at the University of Brighton’s Falmer Campus, which was closely monitored. MGAC conducted regular reporting to the University to allow action to be implemented to mitigate delays and avoid directly impacting the University’s ability to relocate its staff as planned and free up other campus buildings included in the programme.
Success Factors
Our Project Managers captured change requirements to limit impact on the students and staff, as well as the budget and project programme, and provided accurate monthly reporting to the University to ensure the project was progressing in line with plans. The stringent plan meant the project was completed and handed over in time for the new academic year, allowing students to reoccupy the space and avoid disrupting their studies.
Similarly, our Cost Managers controlled changes and oversaw the finances to ensure the project remained within the tight budget. They provided accurate reporting of forecasted costs, allowing the University to promptly agree to changes while remaining within the overall project budget.
Sustainability was a priority during this renovation, and the quality of construction was incredibly high. The external window installation involved new double-glazed UPVC sash windows, which replaced the existing timber-framed single-glazed windows. This improvement increased the Energy pPerformance Certificate (EPC) rating by several points, lowering the project’s carbon footprint.
