Wessex Galvanizers climbs stairways to success

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jan 18, 2006

Wessex Galvanizers has successfully secured a contract for galvanizing new stairways and footbridges at one of the main student accommodation sites of Southampton University.

Wessex Galvanizers , part of the Wedge Group - the UK's largest independent galvanizing business - has successfully secured a contract for galvanizing new stairways and footbridges at one of the main student accommodation sites of Southampton University.

The University is carrying out major refurbishment work and constructing new accommodation facilities at its Glen Eyre Hall of Residence, which is close to the main campus on the northern side of the city.

Wessex Galvanizers , based at Eastleigh, near Southampton, was selected by fabricators Merlin Fabrications of New Milton, Hampshire to galvanize the steel for 12 bespoke stairways with integral landings, plus three new external link bridge designs which are being incorporated into the re-developed student accommodation blocks.

The construction and installation phase of the project is being carried out by international engineering and construction group, Costain, and is due for completion by July 2006.

The project represents an investment of £15-£20 million at the Glen Eyre Hall, and comprises the refurbishment of three separate student blocks, originally constructed in the 1960s.

Each block is having an extra top storey added and also a new extension building to give each block a 'G-shaped' configuration.

On completion, the total number of students accommodated in the blocks will be 600.

Richard Whiddett, Sales Manager of Wessex Galvanizers , said: "We have worked closely with Merlin Fabrications in the past on a number of successful projects and were delighted to have the opportunity to work with the company again on this important development in our local area".

Edgar Riches of Merlin Fabrications said: "Our role in this project is to design, fabricate and install the stairways and link bridges".

"Wessex Galvanizers met our requirement for galvanizing the steel components of the stairways and bridges in terms of their technical capability and experience, and were our preferred choice for the contract.".