Project archive

From manor houses to hospitals

Oculus consultants have worked on a wide range projects many of which have won awards. This gallery gives examples of some of these projects. Our case studies detail some of the issues that we have been able to resolve on behalf of our clients as part of our work as Approved Inspectors and Building Consultants.

Mercedes Benz Technology Centre, Brixworth, Northamptonshire


New component manufacturing and testing facility for Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines.

Voyager Park, Portsmouth


New commercial and light industrial units at Phase 1 Voyager Park.

Architect: HNW Architects  Contractor: Wates Construction

Temple Circus, Bristol


New multi-storey office development in the heart of Bristol’s business district.

Architect: DK Architects  Contractor: Carillion

Vale Park, Evesham, Worcestershire


New office development

Architect: Lett & Sweetland  Contractor: Spellar Metcalfe

Wessex Water Operations Centre, Bath


The building was designed as an exemplar of environmentally sensitive architecture and at the time, was the greenest office in the UK, consuming less than one third of the energy required to power a standard headquarters building.

Architect: Bennetts Associates  
Structural and building services engineers: Buro Happold

Headquarters Building for Sophos Plc, Abingdon, Oxfordshire


Sophos, a world leader in corporate anti-virus protection. The building combines environmental best practice with the requirements of a highly-serviced, IT-intensive building. The nature of the anti-virus industry means that the building is built to high security specifications.

Architect: Bennetts Associates  

Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth


Oculus assisted the design team and client with a fire strategy for this 30-storey tower block of luxury apartments.

Client: Berkeley Homes

Poundbury, Dorchester


Poundbury is a distinguished development in Dorchester creating an ‘urban village’. With an established external appearance Oculus assisted the design team with the fire strategy for the building accommodating the internal arrangements of the building without any significant alteration.

Architects: HGP Architects + Quinlan & Francis Terry Architects

6-7 Old Bond Street, Bath


6-7 Old Bond Street, Bath are retail premises set in a historic terrace dating from the mid-18th century and would have originally been houses, we provided a detailed fire risk assessment for the premises. Oculus have a great deal of experience with Bath's historic buildings and advising on fire safety.

Cleveland Place East, Bath


Cleveland Place East, Bath, dating from 1845, the Dispensary has a late classical style front and was a charitable institution where medical advice was given and medicines dispensed. Oculus provided a detailed fire risk assessment for the premises.

St John's Hospital, Bath


Oculus provided a detailed fire risk assessment for St John’s Hospitals city centre residential complex comprising of Grade I and II* listed buildings.

Chapel Court, Bath


Oculus have a great deal of experience with Bath's historic buildings and advising on fire safety. We first and foremost gain an understanding of the building and its historic features before advising on upgrading works and how these may impact on the historic fabric.

Rosewell House, Kingsmead Square, Bath


Oculus have a great deal of experience with Bath's historic buildings and advising on fire safety. We first and foremost gain an understanding of the building and its historic features before advising on upgrading works and how these may impact on the historic fabric.

New Bond Street, Bath


For the Old Post Office development, New Bond Street, Bath, Oculus were able to provide the Design Team and Client with a fire strategy which respected the historic fabric in this prestigious city centre complex.

Client: Future Heritage

Vulcan Building


The Vulcan Building is a former storehouse dating from 1814, located in the historic naval dockyard at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. Oculus provided a fire strategy which respected the historic fabric and allowed the conversion to apartments with minimum intervention.

Client: Berkeley Homes

St Michaels and St Pauls Church, Bath


Internal alterations and new mezzanine level, including improvements for access at St. Michael’s & St. Paul’s Church. Oculus provided the building control services.

Architect: Caroe & Partners  Contractor: Emerys of Bath

Swallowfield Park, Reading


A historic building steeped in history updated in the Georgian period under the then ownership of Thomas Pitt. Oculus are involved in providing building control services for sensitive internal alterations.

Tyntesfield Estate


Oculus Building Consultancy are involved in providing the building control services for The National Trust for projects on the Tyntesfield estate. These include the Mansion, Sawmills, Home Farm Traditional Buildings, Stable Block and Coach House and other buildings on the estate.

St Mary’s Chapel, Salisbury for Wiltshire College


The project involved the refurbishment and conversion of a former chapel to teaching space. From the before and after photographs it is possible to see how the building interior was transformed into a light airy space. Oculus provided the building control services.

Project Surveyors: King Sturge, Bath  Contractor: R Moulding & Co, South Newton

Vulcan Building


The Vulcan Building is a former storehouse dating from 1814, located in the historic naval dockyard at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. Oculus provided a fire strategy which respected the historic fabric and allowed the conversion to apartments with minimum intervention.

Client: Berkeley Homes

6-7 Old Bond Street, Bath


6-7 Old Bond Street, Bath are retail premises set in a historic terrace dating from the mid-18th century and would have originally been houses, we provided a detailed fire risk assessment for the premises. Oculus have a great deal of experience with Bath's historic buildings and advising on fire safety.

Cleveland Place East, Bath


Cleveland Place East, Bath, dating from 1845, the Dispensary has a late classical style front and was a charitable institution where medical advice was given and medicines dispensed. Oculus provided a detailed fire risk assessment for the premises.

St John's Hospital, Bath


Oculus provided a detailed fire risk assessment for St John’s Hospitals city centre residential complex comprising of Grade I and II* listed buildings.

Chapel Court, Bath


Oculus have a great deal of experience with Bath's historic buildings and advising on fire safety. We first and foremost gain an understanding of the building and its historic features before advising on upgrading works and how these may impact on the historic fabric.

Rosewell House, Kingsmead Square, Bath


Oculus have a great deal of experience with Bath's historic buildings and advising on fire safety. We first and foremost gain an understanding of the building and its historic features before advising on upgrading works and how these may impact on the historic fabric.

New Bond Street, Bath


For the Old Post Office development, New Bond Street, Bath, Oculus were able to provide the Design Team and Client with a fire strategy which respected the historic fabric in this prestigious city centre complex.

Client: Future Heritage

Williton Workhouse, Somerset


Oculus were commissioned jointly by West Somerset District Council and English Heritage to carry out a fabric survey of the old Workhouse at Williton in Somerset which was about to undergo re-development to apartments.

Client: English Heritage

Millfield School, Street, Somerset


New music school facility and concert hall at Millfield School.

Architect: DK Architects  Contractor: Cowlins

St Keyna Primary School, Keynsham, Bristol


New primary school in Keynsham.

Architect: DK Architects  Contractor: Kier Western

Royal Grammar School, Worcester


New Prep School at The Grange Worcester for RGS Worcester.

Architect: Lett & Sweetland   Contractor: Spellar Metcalfe

Westwood St Thomas School, Salisbury


New reception and administration building.

Architect: DK Architects

Queen Mary University of London


Humanities Building

Architect: Wilkinson Eyre Architects

University of Sussex, Brighton


Teaching Building

Architect: APD

Frome Community Hospital Somerset


New two storey community hospital for Somerset Primary Care Trust.

Architect: DK Architects  Contractor: Laing O'Rourke

Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE), Royal United Hospital, Bath.


New specialist research centre and clinic for RICE in the grounds of the RUH Bath.

Architect: G2 Architects Contractor: Ken Biggs Contractors

Keynsham Health Park


 

Architect: DKA

Nuffield Hospital, Oxford


 

Architect: Kendall Kingscott

Minehead Community Hospital


 

Architect: DKA for Laing O’Rourke

Rush Hill Surgery, Bath


 

Architect: Architects: G2 Architects

Jubilee Library, Brighton


New library short listed for the RIBA Stirling Award 2005. The building, designed by Bennetts Associates in association with Lomax, Cassidy & Edwards, has already received a number of accolades including the RIBA Award for 2005. The PFI project was built by Rok.

Jubilee Library, Brighton


New library short listed for the RIBA Stirling Award 2005. The building, designed by Bennetts Associates in association with Lomax, Cassidy & Edwards, has already received a number of accolades including the RIBA Award for 2005. The PFI project was built by Rok.

Whatley Manor, Malmesbury, Wiltshire


Major restoration and redevelopment of Cotswold manor house to form luxury hotel and spa.

Montpellier Chapter, Cheltenham


Chapter Hotel

Architect: MAKE Architects

Queen Mary, University of London


New student village creating 1,000 new rooms at Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road campus. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and built by Laing O’Rourke, it has received many awards – see Awards section.

Queen Mary, University of London


New student village creating 1,000 new rooms at Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road campus. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and built by Laing O’Rourke, it has received many awards – see Awards section.

Combe Park, Bath


Development of 54 one-bedroom flats and a range of communal facilities and landscape gardens for St John’s Hospital

Architect: G2 Architects

Combe Park, Bath


Development of 54 one-bedroom flats and a range of communal facilities and landscape gardens for St John’s Hospital

Architect: G2 Architects

Student housing Blue Board Quad, Christ Church, Oxford




Architect: Purcell Miller Tritton

Thornbank Gardens, Bath


Student housing

Architect: DKA

Pulteney Road, Bath


Student housing

Architect: ASA Architecture Ltd

St Catherine’s College, Oxford


Student housing

Architect: Hodder & Partners

University of Sussex, Brighton


Student housing

Architect: ADP

Badminton School, Bristol


Student housing

Architect: Mitchell Taylor Workshop

University College, Chichester


Student housing

Architect: HNW Architects

Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth


Major redevelopment of Cascades Shopping Centre.

Architect: Benoy Architects  Contractor: Kier Construction

Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth


Major redevelopment of Cascades Shopping Centre.

Architect: Benoy Architects  Contractor: Kier Construction

White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge, Wiltshire


New showrooms and workshop facilities for the Platinum Motor Group.

Architect: BBA Architects

Zerodegrees, Colston Street, Bristol


New micro-brewery and restaurant, plus attached office development for Zerodegrees.

Architect: Acanthus Ferguson Mann

The Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol


New community media centre designed and built with sustainability in mind. The main frame consists of laminated timber frame made from a recycled source, with the main wall construction of prefabricated modular straw bale, lime rendered cladding panels. The building is naturally ventilated, has a biomass woodchip boiler, has rainwater collection for WC flushing, and solar collectors to assist water heating.

Architect: White Design  Contractor: ER Hemmings

Backfields, Bristol - Social housing and facilities


Development of 60 apartments, 9 houses and 8 workspaces by Leadbitter Design and Build for Knightstone Housing Association

Architect: GCP Architects

Lease Hill, Swindon


Development of 49 dwelling units by Leadbitter Design and Build for Housing 21

Architect: Quattro Design Architects

Llanishen, Cardiff


Development of 102 older persons and young disabled person’s apartments by Leadbitter Design & Build for Linc Cymru

Architect: Quattro Design Architects

Chelston Park, Wellington


Development for new nursing home.

Architect: DKA

Ebbw Vale


Development of 41 older persons and young disabled person’s apartments by Leadbitter Design & Build for Linc Cymru

Architect: Quattro Design Architects

Woodside Nursing Home


Extensions and alterations to nursing home

Architect: Mitchell Taylor Workshop

St John’s Hospital – Almshouse Complex, Bath


Refurbishment of apartments and common areas of Chapel House

Architect: Edmond Shipway