Mitton Commercial Case Studies
Chatsworth House – Mitton At Work On The Masterplan
The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House is one of Britain’s best loved historic estates and the heart beat of the Peak District National Park. With famous works of art, a working farmyard, spectacular fountains and the finest shopping and eating, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
This year sees Chatsworth in the midst of a landmark Masterplan of restoration and development which brings together hundreds of artisans, engineers and specialists working to safeguard Chatsworth’s heritage and continue its history.
The project involves restoring exterior stonework and historic interiors, creating new spaces for more displays, completely upgrading the services in the house and making it easier for every visitor to explore Chatsworth, with a more accessible visitor route from 2010.
From 2010, completion of the Masterplan will ensure:-
- Fewer stairs on the visitor route and full wheelchair access to all floors.
- New spaces, restored interiors and more space for displays.
- New water, heating and electricity services in the house.
- Repaired and conserved stonework and carvings, inside and out.
Working with main contractors E Bowman & Sons Ltd and architects Peter Inskip + Peter Jenkins, who specialise in projects covering the conservation of historic buildings and their landscapes, Mitton is proud to have been selected to install new sanitary appliances and plumbing and mechanical installations on the second and third floors of this prestigious House.
York Art Gallery
York Art Gallery is a public art gallery with a collection of paintings dating from 14th century to contemporary, as well as 20th century ceramics. The Gallery is managed by York Museums Trust, along with York Castle Museum and the Yorkshire museum and gardens.
The building was originally built for the second Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition in 1879, and became the City Art Gallery in 1892. The main gallery was refurbished in 2005, and is used for special and visiting exhibitions.
A new gallery dedicated to one of the country’s most important pottery collections opens this September, funded through the Arts Council Yorkshire and Renaissance Yorkshire.
Working with main contractor Wm Anelay Ltd of York, Mitton’s involvement in the project covered supply, installation, testing and setting to work a low pressure hot water heating system. The work included new convector heaters and distribution pipework along with a new ventilation installation complete with heat recovery units and spiral wound ventilation ductwork, grilles and external weather louvres.
The first exhibition to be staged in the new gallery will feature three of the most important ceramic collectors in pottery history; Eric Milner-White, once Dean of York Minster, W A Ismay MBE and Henry Rothschild.
Developing Church Bank House, Bradford for Schofield Sweeney
Sustained growth prompted leading Bradford law firm Schofield Sweeney to relocate from their current base on Canal Road early in 2007. The company invested some £2M in office premises on Church Bank, overlooking Bradford Cathedral, on the fringes of Bradford’s historic and increasingly sought-after Little Germany quarter.
An extensive refit of the prestigious 16,000ft2 premises in the heart of the city was completed, providing dramatically improved facilities for clients and professional contacts.
Modifications carried out by Mitton include the installation of new comfort cooling radiators and water service alterations to improve the working atmosphere across all seasons.
UniChem Ltd, Chessington
Mitton has enjoyed a long term relationship with UniChem, the UK’s leading distributor and wholesaler of pharmaceutical, medical and healthcare products. The Chessington contract, won by competitive tender, called for alterations to the chilled water system to allow the existing chillers to service the computer room only. The contract also required that provision be made for the installation of new chillers at a later date.
Work included the supply and installation of pipe work, valves and fittings including a new low loss header which replaced an existing pipe work distribution arrangement on site. The pipe work was been carefully planned and installed to allow for the future installation of new, additional chillers.
Mitton installed new distribution pipe work running to the existing computer suite and connecting to two existing downflow air handling units, as well as installing a new downflow unit. Spare connections were left off in the ceiling void complete with isolation valves for future provision of two additional downflow units.
Mitton worked very closely with the client to meet exacting deadlines on this project. Temporary cooling facilities were provided by the client to maintain temperatures in the computer suite while Mitton carried out final modifications and alterations to pipework, achieving a minimum shutdown period in line with operating requirements.
Fitness First, Northampton
Fitness First is the largest gym, health and fitness club operator in the world with more than 170 centres in the UK. At the Northampton centre, Fitness First was experiencing problems with the existing gas supply, which was inadequate for purpose in the light of changing regulations.
Mitton installed a new gas supply from the meter around the building, connecting to existing heating and hot water plant to maintain heating and water supplies to the gym. The new system has been installed in compliance with CORGI regulations. In addition, Mitton upgraded the existing cold water storage facility by provision of a new sectional cold water storage tank and attached cold water booster set, designed to distribute cold water efficiently to various parts of the building.
This was just one of several projects carried out by Mitton on behalf of Fitness First. Other significant projects have included upgrading a gas pipe installation in line with CORGI regulations at Ashford in Kent.
Quantity Surveyors Invest In Comfort Cooling
Mitton utilised their technical experience and contracting skills to install comfort cooling and heating for one of the country’s leading quantity surveying companies, Rex Procter & Partners, as part of the refurbishment of their Low Moor offices in Bradford.
Following a detailed evaluation of schemes provided, Mitton designed, installed, tested and commissioned a number of inverter driven split systems to both individual and open plan office areas. External condensers are located in strategic positions, interlinked to the internal cassettes via insulated refrigeration pipe work. Room temperatures are then selected by the occupants using the hand held remote controllers, and the room conditions are maintained at comfortable temperatures throughout the year.
The installation was carried out over a four week period and was successfully handed over towards the end of November 2007. Rex Procter & Partners are delighted with the installation, and are already feeling the benefits of having a temperature controlled working environment.
All Mitton comfort cooling systems use R410a refrigerants in line with changing environmental requirements.
The New See House - Diocese of Ripon and Leeds
Hollin House in Weetwood Avenue, Leeds was bought and renovated by the Church Commissioners to enable the appointed bishop and his successors to move from the original See House in Ripon to live closer to two-thirds of the population of the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds.
Working with F A Lachmann Consultants Ltd, Mitton have been involved in mechanical services modifications to both the dwelling itself and to the workplace created from outbuildings to the original house. Interestingly enough, structural work to the property included measures to provide for two small colonies of bats, with a bat run created in the roof space of the outbuilding, where a colony of brown long-eared bats were found.
Mitton’s work has included installation of hot and cold water services, ventilation and gas installations, low pressure hot water heating, thermal insulation and automatic controls.
Contract Value: £85,000