HLA Services secures £500,000 Newcastle University contract

Boldon-based HLA Services is building on its education sector reputation with a £500,000 contract to refurbish Newcastle University’s Great North House.

The company has an 18-year working relationship with the university and is supplying its full mechanical services to the contract, which will be in line with the university’s strategy on sustainability and carbon reduction.

The five-storey building, located on the city campus, will undergo a partial refurbishment with a specific focus on sustainability and energy efficiency, including the replacement and modification of the existing mechanical services.

The company was brought into the project by Bishop Auckland-based main contractor VEST Construction.

Paul Smith, director at HLA Services, said: “We have established a long-term relationship with Newcastle University and have worked well with the team at VEST Construction for a number of years.

“Led by contract manager Mark Charlton, we are to undertake the full refurbishment work to Great North House.

“This will include the installation of a heat recovery ventilation system, a heating/cooling system, an air source heat pump, hot water generator and the removal of gas fired boiler plants.

“This will support the university’s aim of reducing carbon and net zero emissions by 2030.

“The project scope will include improvements to the fabric of the building and replacement of the existing plant to support the decarbonisation of the building and reduce carbon emissions.”

Gavin Vest, managing director at Vest Construction, added: “We were appointed by Newcastle University as the main contractor on the project and having worked with HLA Services previously, it was the natural fit for us to bring to the project.

“Our team, along with external suppliers, will be carrying out the internal and external building work.

“This will include new ceilings, cavity wall installations and the installation of new solar panels on the roof.”

With its headquarters in Boldon, and a new office in Teesside, HLA Services employs more than 100 people, with satellite offices in Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

The company works across numerous sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail, education and hospitality. It is one of the North East’s leading full mechanical, air conditioning, climate change and temperature control specialists.

HLA Services works with four of the region’s universities – Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Durham – where it supplies service and maintenance, air conditioning and local exhaust ventilation services or project-based work.