New structure ‘better for clients'
Allan Roofing has announced its demerger from the Ambersham Construction Group. With business continuing to expand, the management teams at Allan and Ambersham agreed that this was the most effective way to keep pace with clients' needs.
‘It's important for us to be as flexible as possible', explains Managing Director Luke Wessely. ‘The group structure was very beneficial in terms of shared resources. But we've grown a lot – and the shift in the economy means clients expect us to be able to react quickly and provide the widest choice of solutions. We can do both those things better as a standalone business.'
As part of the demerger, Allan's manufacturing arm has been set up as an independent business. It will continue to be an important source of supply for Allan Roofing, but will also be able to supply other clients - and Allan Roofing, in turn, will be able to obtain products from whichever source is best suited for the job.
‘It gives our clients the best of both worlds', says Wessely. ‘They get direct access to our fabrication – but they're not tied to it if they'd prefer another option.'
2009 was another strong year for Allan Roofing, with a series of significant new projects taken on, including the prestigious King's Cross Central development.
Fit for a King(‘s Cross) King's Cross caught the headlines in 2007, when the spectacularly-refurbished St. Pancras Station became a new London home for Eurostar. As the rest of the surrounding King's Cross Central development begins to take shape, Allan Roofing will play a key role – planning and completing four separate roofing projects, worth a combined £4.2m.
The projects include work on the ground-breaking new home for Central St Martins College of Art & Design, housed in the old Victorian Granary Complex, as well as the new headquarters building for Sainsbury plc.
‘It's a hugely exciting project to be involved in', says Allan MD Luke Wessely. ‘People use the term ‘landmark development' quite freely these days, but King's Cross Central will make a genuine difference to the whole fabric of London.'
The new Central St Martins campus will include state-of-the-art facilities for art, design, communication and performance – all brought together in one site, reinforcing London's position as a world leader in the Arts.
The work will be carried out as part of Allan's CAT 1 preferred supplier relationship with BAM Construction and will involve a wide range of solutions – including zinc, flat roofing, standing seam, hydrotech, slating and rooflights.
For more information about the King's Cross development, visit www.kingscrosscentral.com
New face for an Angel Following on from the acclaimed refurbishment of 55 Baker Street, Allan Roofing has been given another opportunity to help freshen up a London landmark – this time at Angel Building in Islington.
Situated prominently on the junction of St John Street and Pentonville Road, Angel Building is a dramatic re-invention of an earlier commercial site – retaining the existing concrete frame, but re-wrapping and expanding it to create a striking, contemporary feel.
One of the highlights of the new building will be the existing open courtyard, newly enclosed to make a bright interior space.
‘It's a challenging project,' says Allan Roofing Managing Director Luke Wessely. ‘And that;s what makes it great to work on. It really gives you a chance to show what you can do.'
As well as covering the courtyard, Allan will be supplying a variety of roofing solutions for the project, including Flat Roofing, Terraces, Timber Decked Communal Spaces & Privacy Screens.
Due to complete in Summer 2010, Angel Building will be the new home of Cancer Research UK. The development is being carried out by Derwent London, the central London specialist, recently described by Property Week as one of the ‘developers of the decade'.
For more details about Angel Building, visit www.derwentlondon.com