Major face-lift and refurbishment for Aquis House

AQUIS HOUSE on Clasketgate, a prominent four-storey office building in Lincoln city centre is to receive a major face-lift and internal refurbishment.

“The work will make a major improvement to the exterior of the building and have a very positive visual impact on the building and the streetscape” said Daniel Race, partner at Hodgson Elkington, the Lincoln chartered surveyors who have been appointed project co-ordinators for the work.

“There will also be significant alterations and improvements internally, providing a dedicated entrance to the ground floor space for Connexions and for Sills and Betterridge together with additional office space on the third floor to meet the expansion needs of Sills and Betteridge solicitors who require more space within the building” he added.

The works to be carried out include new windows throughout the building, new cladding to the front elevation, new doors, a complete new heating system, new passenger lift, upgrading of the WC facilities and a full refurbishment of the communally shared parts of the building, comprising the main entrance, stairs and landings.

Working with the building’s owner, Mike Wroblewski of Centurion Finance (Lincoln) Limited and the two tenants in the building Hodgson Elkington has put together a substantial refurbishment scheme with a budget of £0.5million.

Solicitors Sills and Betteridge who currently occupy the first and second floors will remain in these suites and take the third floor as additional space to meet their expansion requirements.

Practice director Martyn Hall said, “Despite the recession the firm has seen continued growth and having outgrown our existing office space within the building and on Silver Street, the third floor of Aquis House provides the additional accommodation we need. Staff will be less cramped and we will have a suite of meeting rooms to see clients and our own separate entrance,” he added. The firm now has 130 members of staff and offices in Lincoln, Boston, Spilsby and Coningsby.

Connexions, Lincolnshire County Council’s careers guidance service, occupies the ground floor of the building as a careers advice office and will benefit from the general refurbishment of the building but more particularly a new dedicated entrance improving the accessibility of the service.

Main contractors for the refurbishment are Lindum BMS. Fifteen workers will be employed on the 14 week contract confirmed Richard Shaw, Lindum BMS contracts manager.

Also involved are cost consultants and project managers, Sutherland Consulting Ltd and architects, Lincs Design Consultancy based in Louth.