With the hotel sector growing significantly in Northern Ireland in recent years, JBE Mechanical Electrical has once again showcased the company’s ability to meet these demands with expert work at the Holiday Inn in Belfast.
As the M&E contractor on the impressive five-storey building at the existing hotel complex at University Street, JBE Mechanical Electrical had to nd the perfect balance between delivering a five-star installation while ensuring that existing guests were not unduly disrupted.
The £5million extension, which was funded by Danske Bank, has added 60 new bedrooms to the hotel, which is based in the popular Queen’s Quarter area, and has also revamped much of the public space.
Owned and operated since 1996 by Andras Hotels, it has been reworked under the Holiday Inn Express ‘New Generation’ design concept. The new bedroom wing extends over three floors and includes two underground car parking decks and parking at surface level.
Each new bedroom has a stylish fresh modern décor featuring larger beds with premium bedding, increased connectivity and smart TV, air-conditioning and an elegant bathroom. The lobby and dining areas have also had the New Generation makeover, providing integrated design and flexible dining.
JBE’s contract was to supply, install, test and commission the mechanical and electrical services associated with the new five-storey extension. Mechanical solutions delivered by JBE Mechanical Electrical included air conditioning, ventilation, gas, trace heating and gas- red water heaters as well as the BMS. As part of the contract, JBE will also undertake season commissioning and planned preventative maintenance at the hotel.
Kevin Cottrell, Mechanical Contracts Manager for this project, said “The preparation and planning ahead of the project proved essential for the smooth running of the project.
“The hotel was still going to be operating when we were on- site, so the first objective was ensuring that we caused as little disruption to guests and staff as possible,” he said. “We were involved in the M&E design, and this was important to making sure everything ran smoothly as soon as we arrived on site.”
The first phase of the project was the creation of a new carpark, and this allowed the team to then move on quickly to the main extension.
“Communication is key on every project, but even more so when you’re working on a live environment like this,” added Kevin. “We held regular meetings with the client and the main contractor, MSM Contracts, and that helped us to keep ahead of any issues.
“The hotel sector is growing at a remarkable pace in Belfast, so we are delighted to be able to demonstrate our expertise in this growing sector.”
JBE Mechanical Electrical, Lamont House, Braid River Business Park, 105 Railway Street, Ballymena, BT42 2AF.
T: 028 2565 8522
W: www.jbe.com
Sub Contractors
The Contracts Division at Beggs & Partners has provided a tailored solution to meet the needs of the new extension at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Belfast.
With the hotel sector growing at such a significant rate in the city, Beggs & Partners has again demonstrated how the company’s Commercial Division retains its finger on the pulse of the industry by completing a growing number of hotel projects.
“We have vast experience across a wide range of projects, so being able to cater for the needs of many of the new hotels in the city has been straightforward,” explained Alastair Scott, Contracts Manager at Beggs & Partners Commercial. “We go into each project with the same mindset – to listen to what the client needs and then offer a quality, cost-effective solution.
With so many hotels being built in Belfast in a short space of time, each one wants to offer a different look and, thanks to our diverse product range and relationships with leading suppliers, we are able to offer them plenty of different options.”
Working closely with the client and M&E contractor, JBE Mechanical Electrical, Beggs & Partners supplied commercial sanitary ware solutions from leading manufacturers including Grohe, Vitra, Kaldewei, Roman, Hansgrohe and Ideal Standard. The challenge at the Holiday Inn Express was giving the new extension a new look than still remained in keeping with the rest of the hotel.
The new extension is part of a new five-story complex that incorporates additional parking facilities as well as 60 new bedrooms that have been reworked under the Holiday Inn Express ‘New Generation’ design concept. A central part of this is having elegant bathrooms to complement a fresh modern décor that includes larger beds with premium bedding, increased connectivity and smart TV and air conditioning.
“We take a lot of pride in the wide range of quality products that we offer – that is important when working on projects such as this” added Alastair. “This has been built up over many years and we have strong relationships with manufacturers that can ensure quick lead in times. We also have high stock levels across all our branches, meaning we are well positioned to meet a project’s demands, both here in Northern Ireland or in Great Britain or Ireland.”
Comprising the Contracts Division and the Commercial Plumbing & Heating Division, Beggs & Partners Commercial delivers an unrivalled service on commercial plumbing, heating and sanitary ware solutions. From tender to through completion, Beggs & Partners Commercial has the ability to meet the needs of projects ranging from retro t and heritage through to new builds. Experience and expertise are the key factors behind the success of the family- run company, which has worked hard to create a reputation for reliability and attention to detail.
Offering nearly 60 years of expertise, the knowledgeable Contracts Division team at Beggs & Partners has experience of providing bespoke sanitary ware solutions to commercial projects across the UK and Ireland. This is complemented by the expertise of the Commercial Plumbing & Heating Division, giving customers the opportunity to bene t from a combined package or to avail or separate plumbing and heating and sanitary ware services.
Beggs & Partners, Great Patrick Street, Belfast.
T: 028 9023 5791
Branches at Belfast, Ballymena, Lisburn, Maghera, Newtownards and Portadown
W: www.beggsandpartners.com
Crystal Air Services Ltd showcased the company’s experience and expertise to deliver a high quality air conditioning system. The company installed a complete air-conditioning package for the new extension that works in conjunction with the rest of the hotel.
A touchscreen controller allows guests to control the air conditioning in their own room while a central touchscreen system operates the air conditioning throughout the rest of the hotel. “The biggest challenge of this project was ensuring we didn’t disrupt the hotel guests in the rest of the building, so we worked closely with JBE Mechanical Electrical to plan the project to avoid any issues,” explained Mark Mawhinney, Director at Crystal Air Services Ltd. Crystal Air Services offers a complete service for air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, heating and renewable technology and has worked on commercial projects such as schools, offices, factories and hospitals, amongst others, in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well as Great Britain and even into mainland Europe. As well as being an approved Hitachi installer, the company is a D1 Approved Installer for Daikin and also represents Vortice.
Mark concluded, “With our product range and experience we can tailor a solution to meet any commercial requirements.”
Crystal Air Services Ltd, 205 Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, BT24 8UR
T: 0044 (0)28 9756 1404 – E: info@crystal-air.com
W: www.crystal-air.com
EB Gas Services Ltd supplied, installed and commissioned gas leak detection panels and sensors along with gas interlock and proving systems at the new extension for the Holiday Inn express in Belfast.
The solutions included the Intelligas four-zone gas detection system, with EB Gas Services Ltd working closely with JBE Mechanical Electrical to deliver an effective and reliable system.
EB Gas Services carries out both domestic and commercial gas installation and pipework, and, over the years, the company has developed into one of the largest gas service and installation companies in Ireland.
Kevin Byrne, Director, said, “Credibility is important, particularly when it comes to gas safety. The fact that we work with all the major M&E contractors in Northern Ireland and our experience on projects across the UK and Ireland reflects our reputation as a reliable company. That has helped us to grow our business, not only in Northern Ireland but also much further a field.”
EB Gas Services Ltd, Unit 1, 29A Tandragee Road, Newry BT35 6QE.
T: 0044 (0)28 3026 2908
E: service@ebgasservices.com
W: www.ebgasservices.com
