BURNING SUCCESS

WYG has called upon the Quantity Surveying Services of Baker Mallett for the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Leicester Central Fire Station.

The alterations and refurbishment work has been designed to make use of the existing rear workshop and storage building to house new sleeping accommodation, locker rooms, gym and driver training facilities. Demolition of a 1970’s bedroom block extension is also planned which will provide additional space in the front building for community facilities as well as creating further office space for wider fire service use.

The rear building is an early example of modern reinforced in situ concrete construction techniques dating back to 1920 and benefits from a feature clock. As a result the proposed building use has had to be tailored to suit the existing layout.

The front building is also going to be modernised and up dated whilst keeping many of its original features. These include a fireman’s pole and a sprung dance floor with an ornate curved plaster ceiling with glazed central roof light that once hosted many parties and Fireman’s Balls. These will all be salvaged and maintained with the dance floor converted into open plan offices for the use of the wider Leicester Fire and Rescue Service.

The refurbishment will be completed with the replacement of the mechanical and electrical services throughout. The works are programmed to take 15 months commencing in Spring 2009.