Following an official event with Helena and other partners, work has begun on the site in Corporation Street, St Helens, which was previously home to a St Helens Glass production facility.
Designed by KKA Architects, the 2,165 sq m (23,000 sq ft), three-storey glass-clad building from developers Milston, will provide a new Town Centre base for around 230 Helena staff, as well as acting as a neighbourhood office for tenants. Helena will lease the office on a long-term basis.
-- Advertisement --
The new office, which will be known as Helena Central, will incorporate a number of sustainable elements, including brise-soleil on all four elevations and a heat recovery system, ensuring it will achieve a BREEAM very good rating. Working with Structural Engineers ABA Consulting, the build itself will be constructed using a steel frame and includes design features such as micro rib cladding and ribbon windows.
When complete, the scheme will also include a large resource centre with meeting space for local people and organisations. It will also be available to host a variety of community and corporate events.
Jonathan Pochin, Managing Director at Pochin Construction, commented: "As Helena Central is located on the former St Helens Glass production facility, it forms a vital part of the wider regeneration plan for the town. The glass design provides links to the site's historic roots and by designing and constructing the building to achieve a BREEAM very good rating, we are creating a sustainable building for the future. Working with developer Nextdom, we are scheduled to hand the building over to Helena for its fit out works to commence in August 2011."
(CD/KMcA)
