Building Design Partnership - Offices Development - Project Inspire

Date: 17 Aug 2005

Serco Group plc ("Serco") announced that it has been selected as preferred bidder by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory ("Dstl") for a 15 year strategic partnership contract called 'Project INSPIRE'.

Serco has selected Building Design Partnership (BDP) as its design leader and Sir Robert McAlpine Limited as its construction partner.

The contract, valued at approximately £400 million, will provide and support new and refurbished laboratory and office accommodation. BDP was selected by SERCO on the basis of its innovative design for an integrated office and laboratory environment. BDP has an established relationship with Serco designing high technology laboratory facilities.
As a strategic partner and prime contractor, Serco will be responsible for providing comprehensive facilities management services across Dstl's estate for 15 years from August 2006. In the first 2 years following contract award in April 2006, Serco will also manage the design and build of new facilities at Porton Down and refurbishment of others at Portsdown West and will migrate about 1500 Dstl staff to them. The innovative new facilities and supporting services, which range from laboratory set-up to travel management services, will allow Dstl staff to focus on their core science and technology work within a safe and secure environment.

Serco already provides communication and information services ("CIS") to Dstl through a successful partnering contract, and a range of property and estate management services to the MoD through contracts at the Defence Procurement Agency, Abbeywood, and the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham.

Nick Terry, BDP Chairman said "We look forward to working with Serco and Sir Robert McAlpine to design Dstl's new laboratory and office facilities fit for the twenty-first century. Project INSPIRE will extend BDP's work in high technology facilities."
BDP is providing a full multidiscipline service including: architecture; mechanical, electrical, civil and structural engineering; interior and landscape design; acoustics and lighting.

CGI image of inside Project Inspire

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