Siemens Gamesa has awarded VolkerFitzpatrick an £82m design and build contract for the extension to the turbine manufacturer’s blade factory in Hull, east England.
The contract covers two blade manufacturing facilities and the repurpose of the existing factory.
Work is underway and is due to be completed in May 2023.
Phase one of the project will include pre-cast piling, drainage and foundations and steel frame structures.
The steelwork has been specially designed to allow 40-metre clear spans, with a working height of 18 metres to accommodate the various gantry and console cranes required during the blade manufacturing process, VolkerFitzpatrick said.
The buildings will cover a total footprint of 42,362 metres squared and will be finished with aluminium faced insulated panels to the roof and walls, in continuity with the existing blade factory.
The mechanical and electrical fit-out will include services for lighting, power, water, humidity control, ventilation and cooling.
Phase two will involve modifications to the existing 34,217 square-metre blade factory, to repurpose it from a production facility to a finishing area.
This will include internal reconfigurations, as well as upgrading and replacing mechanical services.
The team will also alter the building’s envelope, steelwork and doors, to allow for larger blades to be manoeuvred in and out.
VolkerFitzpatrick said it will support the local community, by hiring trainees and a portion of its supply chain from the surrounding area.
The team will also re-use stone from the existing site, helping to minimise waste material.
VolkerFitzpatrick building division managing director Stuart Deverill said: “VolkerFitzpatrick has a long-standing, collaborative relationship with Siemens Gamesa, having worked together on its original blade factory in 2016.
“I am delighted that we have now been appointed to deliver these two new facilities and look forward to seeing the works progress over the coming months.”
Siemens Gamesa head of real estate UK and IE Rob Bullen said: “Siemens Gamesa is again delighted to be working with VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver an industry-leading infrastructure project.
“This project is more ambitious even than the initial factory-build in Hull back in 2016, and Siemens Gamesa needed a partner that could match our aspirations for delivering the project.
“It’s evident, even from the early stages of working together on the project, that we have found that partner in VolkerFitzpatrick.”