Engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has completed £25m worth of engineering services at The JJ Mack Building, commercial developer Helical’s flagship scheme for sustainability.
Working closely and collaboratively with Principal Contractor Mace, SES has delivered full mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services for the 200,450 sq ft, ten-storey block in the heart of Farringdon, London – now called The JJ Mack Building. This includes a Category A office fit-out with the latest in integrated building services to make the building ‘smart’ and ultimately, more energy efficient.
Smart technology includes making variables like heating, lighting and security accessible on one network, giving the end user real-time updates of usage and allows them to control the entire building using just one platform.
This innovation has meant that 33 Charterhouse Street is on track to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Outstanding’ – Helical’s first commercial offering to do so – as well as a NABERS five-star rating. It has been designed with sustainability as a priority from its conception, to support the developer’s ambitions of having all new builds Net Zero Carbon in operation by 2025.
The scheme prioritises end-user operation. SES worked closely with all delivery partners and stakeholders – including facilities management company, Ashdown Philipps – to ensure all services were integrated correctly, while an extensive digital twin model was used to ensure seamless assimilation.
Offsite construction was vital to construction with the company’s bespoke offsite manufacturing facility, PRISM being utilised to help design, build and deliver pumps skids, floor service modules, duct work riser modules and the largest and most complex mechanical risers that the facility has built to date.
SES MEP Installation commenced in July 2021, with handover achieved on 30th September 2022 – finishing on Programme.
Steve Joyce, Managing Director at SES Engineering Services, said of the completion:
“Smart buildings are revolutionising the commercial sector as the potential to reduce energy costs and personally manage usage becomes an incredibly attractive option to end tenants. Providing this service seamlessly is a true test of engineering ingenuity and we pride ourselves in being able to deliver this capability to clients to such a high standard.
“As well as our technical expertise, our prior working relationship with both Helical and Mace has been invaluable. Integrating complex building systems relies on early stakeholder collaboration. Already being onboarded with their teams, fully aligned with their goals and ways of working helped streamline delivery and, alongside our offsite capability, has played a large part in successfully handing over this scheme ahead of schedule.”
Managing Director, SES Engineering Services
Adding their thoughts, Mace and Helical said:
“The success of this project is directly attributed to the teamwork and understanding of both Mace and SES project teams. The positive attitude set by senior SES management has influenced the SES site team and their supply chain, setting a constructive and supportive attitude on site. It has been a pleasure to work and deliver this fantastic project with SES and Prism.”
Operations Director, Mace
“Working with trusted companies like SES has allowed us to explore our aspirations to challenge construction methodologies to find better solutions to deliverability. The team understood what we were trying to achieve and had the in-house support and capability to deliver what we wanted. In that way it was mutually beneficial to both our businesses, which is the best working relationship.”
Helical
The JJ Mack Building is the latest build to demonstrate SES’ capabilities in delivering smart buildings, with the company currently delivering other smart projects including 4 Angel Square, at the NOMA development in Manchester.
