News

Compressing a five-week mechanical and electrical installation project into just seven days required a crew of 34 electricians and 14 engineers working onsite around the clock. EIC completed the full M&E requirement for the store working alongside a variety of other trades to deliver the store ahead of the first shoppers arriving.

Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, in conjunction with Johnson Construction, completed the external shell in 24 hours to enable the mechanical and electrical first fix. The first task for EIC was to provide a temporary generator for the groundworks and subsequent construction of the building on day one, December 2nd, and power to the contractors' site cabins.

The full EIC team then arrived on site on Sunday, December 6th and were finished by Sunday 13th ready for the first customers on December 14th. The electrical crew installed the containment, fire alarm, lighting installation, small power, mains distribution and externals such as car park lighting and the gantry sign, while the mechanical experts installed the air handling unit, LPHW pipe work/boiler plant, split AC systems to the sales floor and back of house areas, sanitary ware, above ground drainage and external services.

Nigel Le Marechal, EIC joint managing director, has worked with Tesco for more than 15 years and was delighted to have been able to deliver on this critically important scheme. He said: "When the call came in we didn't hesitate to accept the challenge and immediately mobilised the Fast Track Team to ensure we could deliver a quality project within this incredibly slim time frame. Only a week earlier we had finished a similar scheme at Newton Hill, Stonehaven, so we were able to put into practice the same expertise and standards employed on that project, albeit in seven days rather than five weeks."

"This was a once in a lifetime project for the team who worked alongside the other trades through the night to make sure the job was done. By close of play on the Tuesday evening, less than 72 hours after we arrived on site, the sales floor was illuminated, this was quite a feat of achievement. Everyone involved really pulled out all the stops, working incredibly hard, and we are extremely proud of the part we played in this project."

The construction of the Workington store has been hailed as record breaking for all concerned. Daniel Frith, Tesco Development Manager, was said: "This is the first time we have ever built a store in such a short time.

"At this time of year our customers are busy enough without a three-hour journey just to get to the supermarket. Many of our own staff have been badly affected by flooding so the temporary store will help them too."

"EIC and Yorkon have been part of an outstanding construction team. This project is a really exceptional achievement in such a short space of time."

To see a video of the rapid building installation, click here.