London Air Mail Unit Heathrow Airport 63,000 sq ft (5,853 sq m) Cargo transit warehouse facility Pre-let to Royal Mail
The construction of this new facility for Royal Mail confirms the proven ability of BAA Lynton to deliver bespoke buildings to meet the requirements of its airport customers. The project required detailed attention to the specific business and operational requirements of Royal Mail and, in particular, attention to security issues, bearing in mind the proximity of the airside boundary. This all worked together and the project was finished on time and within budget. Another successful development by BAA Lynton! Stuart Rogers, Senior Development Surveyor, BAA Lynton The facility is world class and provides the greatest level of flexibility and understanding of the business priority, together with a maximum interaction with the airline operators and handlers. Mike Edmondson, Project Manager, Royal Mail
London Air Mail Unit is located at the gateway to Heathrow s Cargo Centre and facilitates Royal Mail s only UK airport operation. The development was particularly technically challenging due to the on-site presence of airport fuel pipes, fibre optic cables, BT infrastructure and a high voltage network. The resulting building is both architecturally challenging and aesthetically pleasing. 22,000 tonnes of redundant concrete was crushed and re-used, negating the need for landfill, use of virgin resources and saving over 2,200 lorry movements providing an environmentally friendly solution. A 1.2km cycle lane was constructed, which also improves the environment and conditions for sustainable transport. Working closely with Royal Mail, the shell and core construction took only 24 weeks and the operation was seamlessly transferred from the existing Royal Mail facility. The fit out included installing a 2.6m automated freight handling system (ETV) and stringent security measures which are unparalleled in the cargo community, including full lock-down capability. The development also involved 2.6m of investment in local infrastructure and improving the capacity of the DfT airside control post adjacent to the site. This is the first phase of the site with a pre-let for Phase Two to Servisair Cargo having just been concluded. Programme June 2003 - Detailed planning permission obtained July 2003 - Enabling Works commenced, incorporating movement of services, a road closure and reconfiguration of Stirling Road adjacent to the site. November 2003 - Agreement for Lease signed January 2004 - Start on site May 2004 - Completion of shell and core works and handover for office, warehouse works and fit out. November 2004 - Completion of office and warehouse works February 2005 - Royal Mail operational date
Project The project consisted of five main elements; a cargo transit warehouse, infrastructure works, upgrade of Stirling Road, reconstruction of the DfT airside security post and construction of a 1.2km cycle path. It was essential that all elements worked together, to ensure a seamless handover from the existing Royal Mail building to the new facility. The cargo transit warehouse was specifically designed to optimise the efficiency of the Royal Mail operation. Through understanding Royal Mail s requirements, the team were able to reduce the size of building required, when compared to their existing facility. The warehouse benefits from airside access by way of a shared airside yard which has an area of 3,465m 2. There are 12 loading doors to both the airside and landside elevations incorporating dock levellers, ETV docks and level access doors. The twin span portal frame structure is semi rigid which allows flexibility for door positioning in the future, but still provides the benefit of very few interruptions to the warehouse floor which in turn maximises the efficiency of the space. The cargo transit warehouse was developed as a landmark building at the gateway to the Heathrow Airport cargo community. A significant amount of time was taken to develop an office/ warehouse solution that is of premium quality and aesthetically very pleasing. The cladding finish to the warehouse is of a high standard and, in particular, the front elevation of the office was designed to minimise the affect of the mass of the building, whilst still ensuring that the impact of the quality of the elevation was maximised. Design of the office, warehouse and fit out works was undertaken with the tenant, Royal Mail and involved reverse integration within the design process to ensure that the end product and process influenced the base design of the building. The team also focused on developing a robust environmental and sustainable project. The project crushed and re-used 22,000 tonnes of existing foundations on the site which provided the basis for the new building. This reduced the requirement for landfill, the use of virgin resources and saved 2,200 lorry movements on the roads around Heathrow, dramatically reducing the impact of the construction on both the environment and the local community. The project also worked in conjunction with Heathrow Airport Limited and their Sustainability Team to further develop a coordinated response to the issue of sustainability around the Airport. By doing so the project was able to construct an important piece of sustainable infrastructure, a 1.2km cycle way which benefits not only the project and the Airport but also the wider community around Heathrow.
BAA Lynton - Development & Project Management Norwest Holst - Main contractor and Delivery Team leader REID - Architect Buro Happold - Structural and Civil Engineer WS Atkins - Planning Supervisor Davis Langdon - Cost Consultants and Assistant Project Manager DSSR - Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Yorkshire Sheeting - Envelope design and installation Rowans Structures - Structural design and installation Drake & Skull - Services contractor Technical Specification Site 14,164 m 2 Infrastructure Work Diversion of 1.2m twin diameter storm water pipes New pit and duct system for BT infrastructure Stirling Road Road reconfigured, incorporating a 24m roundabout Capacity of Stirling Road increased by 65% Building Plan Area 5,853 m 2 The Team The project was developed and managed by BAA Lynton, the commercial property division of BAA plc. BAA Lynton appointed REID, DSSR, Davis Langdon, Buro Happold, WS Atkins and Norwest Holst as the project team for the shell and core work. This is the seventh successful project that this virtual company, known as Shed Co, has completed. The office and warehouse fit out works were completed by Galliford Try. The team has successfully completed projects in the past for BAA Lynton, Heathrow Airport Limited and Stansted Airport Limited. As a result, the team are highly effective and have a proven track record in delivering bespoke air related buildings. This new facility was built on time and within budget whilst at the same time meeting specific and demanding customer needs and requirements. Another successful development. Warehouse First development to meet the new Part L & DDA standards, including pressure testing of warehouse 4,794 m 2 of warehouse floor area 2,636 tonnes of concrete with a power floated AR1 floor finish, poured in four pours 12m to underside of haunch Floor loading 55KN/m 2 787 m 2 additional area under external canopies Dedicated 400KVA transformer Steel Frame 430 tonnes of steel plus 606 tonnes of pre-cast concrete in the warehouse erected in 5 weeks Elevated Transfer Vehicles 2.6m installation for processing ingoing and outgoing prepared Universal Loading Devices (ULD s) Dual cab flexible operation with 104 ULD storage facility ETV capacity more than doubled from the previous facility Offices 405 m 2 ground floor 327 m 2 first floor 327 m 2 second floor Raised access flooring, suspended ceilings Full air conditioning Plant level 251 m 2 (additional area to warehouse and offices) Security Post To DfT standard with full lock down capability Set benchmark for new security posts within BAA Cycle path 3m wide cycle path constructed offsite over a 1.2km length to Highways Agency standards 3 dedicated crossover points
For further information: BAA Lynton - 020 7907 9200 www.baalynton.com BAA Lynton was appointed by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL). The customer, Royal Mail required a world class air mail unit, to meet the challenges of a competitive business environment and which would provide more efficient space than their existing airport location. BAA Lynton, in its role as both Developer and Project Manager were able to assess the operational and business requirements of Royal Mail, and provide a bespoke facility to meet those needs. The result is the construction of a high quality cargo transit warehouse, an investment in local infrastructure and a robust environmental and sustainable project. BAA Lynton is a trading division of BAA plc. This brochure does not constitute any part of a contract. All information is given as a guide, and no liability can be accepted for any errors arising therefrom. No responsibility is taken for any other error, omission or mis-statement in this brochure. Any party representing the owner, or the owner himself do not make or give, whether in these particulars, during negotiations or otherwise any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to this property. Maps not to scale, diagrams and impressions for illustrative purposes only. August 2005.