Skanska Solution awarded £150 million contract for Minerva’s St Botolphs development in the City of London

When complete, the striking new 14-storey office and retail development, designed by architects Grimshaw, will provide 560,000 sq.ft, of high quality Grade A office and retail accommodation. The project is to be completed to Shell & Core specification with the Reception and Lavatories being fully fitted out.
St Botolphs is the second of two schemes that Skanska are currently constructing for Minerva, following the award of The Walbrook, also in the City of London, in the Summer of 2007. Skanska also successfully completed the 90 High Holborn project for Minerva in 2003 as well as the redevelopment of the company’s own headquarters on Wigmore Street in 2002.

At St Botolphs, Skanska has again combined its in-house skills to offer its client an unrivalled combination of expertise, spanning design, construction, mechanical and electrical engineering, piling, and steel decking.

Enabling works have now commenced and completion is scheduled for 2010.

Dave Shadwell, Senior Vice President of Skanska’s Construction Private Operating Unit said: “St Botolphs is a very exciting scheme and we are delighted to be involved in its development alongside Minerva. We have an excellent long term relationship with the company and we are looking forward to delivering another stunning development for them”.

Tim Garnham, Minerva’s Group Development Director said: “We are delighted that Skanska will be working with us on St Botolphs. With a construction contract now signed, a significant pre-let agreed and funding in place, we look forward to delivering the St Botolphs development into the market on schedule in 2010.”

Skanska’s professional team for the project includes Grimshaw (Architects), Arup (engineer) and Roger Preston & Partners (M&E design).

St Botolphs Development – key facts:

 Above the arcaded ground floor, reception and retail areas, St Botolphs rises to provide 12 levels of office space with continuously curving elevations capped by a further set back terraced level of office accommodation.
 The main façade has a strong horizontal banded format using alternate vision areas and coloured glass visors, which act as sunscreens.
 At its perimeter, the plan is defined in quadrants, which are vertically expressed by glass-clad stair and lift enclosures.
 At roof level, all plant is contained within a sloping louvre screen enclosure.
 Below ground, there are extensive plant, parking and storage areas.
 The central atrium with glazed roof, stepped terraces and glass-paved bridges links the office zones to a group of “twin lifts”, which will be a major internal feature, uniquely carrying two independently operating cars in each lift shaft.
 Four Skanska Operating Units form the team to undertake the construction of St Botolphs
 Construction Private
 Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health services to shell and core levels
 Piling & Foundations
 Steel Decking
 General construction comprises a concrete substructure with a steel frame above.
 Photo Voltaic panels will be installed at roof level.