Bath Abbey has chosen four Bath-based companies to lead the design and build work for its ongoing Footprint project, which will restore and future-proof the famous building.
Following a rigorous 4-month tender process, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) has been reappointed as the lead consultant and architect for Footprint, while Buro Happold and Mann Williams have been retained as MEP and structural engineers.
In addition, Duncan Ball from Synergy LLP’s Bath office will continue in his role as the project’s Quantity Surveyor, with Paul Grinham from the same company in the newly created role of Footprint Project Manager.
Charles Curnock from Bath Abbey, who will continue to oversee Footprint as the Project Director, said: “We were delighted by the high calibre of responses to the invitation to tender for the key consultancy roles for the Footprint project’s design and build team.
“While we received competitive tenders from all across the UK, we are very pleased to be once again working with FCBS, Buro Happold, Mann Williams and Synergy LLP, all companies based in Bath.
“What especially attracted us to working with this team is their experience of working with historic listed buildings, coupled with proven track records of providing innovative, sustainable and relevant solutions to their clients’ needs.
“We’re confident we have the right team in place –one which really understands and shares our vision to transform the Abbey and make it useable, sustainable and hospitable for all.”
Geoff Rich, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said: “We were delighted to hear that we have been awarded the opportunity to continue as architects on an amazing project for Bath Abbey and the World Heritage city of Bath.
“We began work on the Footprint project nearly five years ago and since then we have worked closely with the Abbey to understand and define its future needs and to develop design solutions.”
In May 2014, the Abbey received development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its Footprint project in order to help progress plans to secure a full grant of £10m bid at a later date.
The Footprint project is a £19.3 million programme of capital works and interpretation which will repair the Abbey’s collapsing floor, install a new eco-friendly heating system using Bath’s hot springs, and provide new, improved space and facilities to ensure the Abbey is more sustainable, hospitable and usable for the half a million people who use it every year.
