Client: Redcar & Cleveland Council
Date/duration: March 2012 for 26 weeks
Value: £700k
Location: Middlesbrough
Following an arson attack to Golden Boy Green Community Centre in 2009, Northern Bear was appointed to undertake a full refurbishment of the building.
The centre, which housed community groups including the area’s only youth club, was ransacked before being set alight in February 2009, in an attack described as ‘soul destroying’. The building stood empty until the refurbishment project commenced in March 2012.
An initial clean out of the existing building was carried out, in order to remove fire damage and pigeon guano/carcasses, and the remains of the roof were stripped off. The building was then stripped back to the existing shell. Structural steelwork was introduced to form a new central area, followed by re-roofing works. Mechanical and electrical services were both designed and installed by Northern Bear to suit the new internal layout. Sprung flooring was installed to the central hall area and a full refit carried out.
Throughout the scheme, we liaised with local groups and arranged school visits to encourage involvement from the community.
Ian Jeffrey, local Labour councillor for South Bank, said:
“The centre will be operated by the council’s youth service and Kidz Konnekt, the local voluntary youth group, and will provide a purpose-built facility for all our young people – many of whom played a significant part in the project.”
Our team ensured that Golden Boy Green was brought back to a useable condition, within the client’s budget. The building has been designed as a youth/family centre and it is planned that youth and community services will relocate to Golden Boy Green from older premises within the locality.