How we expanded storage space and created a showroom

Transforming a large, open warehouse into smaller, multi-functional offices.

Kempston Controls

Client: Kempston Controls

Projects: A warehouse refurbishment and transformation into office space.

Included: Space planning, project management, design of works, partitioning (glass and plasterboard), suspended ceiling installation, small kitchen installation, decorating and flooring

Contractor Team: Dryliners, demolition operatives, flooring fitters, decorators, partition fitters

Project Duration: 35 days over a 3 month period (to avoid overlap with electricians)

Who's the customer?

Kempston Controls, located in the centre of the UK, is a leading distributor of electrical process control & automation products and electronic components. They have a world-leading reputation for stock, service, competitive pricing and next-day delivery.

Cubex Contracts and Kempston Controls have partnered on a number of projects since 2018. With Kempston seeing continual growth, Cubex has been on hand to help gradually develop their existing site to make space for the business to grow.

What was the brief?

Being in the fortunate position of having enough existing space to accommodate a growing business, Kempston Controls needed to find a better way to utilise the space they already had. With a small warehouse going un-used, this was an opportunity for our client to extend their existing operational space. But with dated interiors and small rooms, the customer wanted a refreshed aesthetic within a large, open plan working area in addition to a new reception area, kitchen and boardroom.

Josh Brown

We have been using Cubex Contracts since around 2018. Cubex has undertaken numerous refurbishment projects at all our sites along with many smaller ad hoc requirements. We have always enjoyed a good working relationship with Cubex who have always been flexible and accommodating throughout our projects, enabling us to fit the work around our opening hours and office activities. Careful attention has been given to understanding our requirements at each stage and detailed quotations have been supplied. Kris who has been the Project Manager for most of our installations has been thorough and efficient, and with a hard-working team keeps us constantly up to date with the project timescales, often juggling last minute changes and requirements to be able to meet our deadlines. We would certainly recommend Cubex for all types of office refurbishments, with ourselves just about to embark on another installation. Thank you Kris & The Cubex team.

Kempston Controls

What did we propose?

After carefully considering the customers’ requirements we presented a number of variations to maximise all available space and light. We started off by stripping back the existing 1960s warehouse to give us an empty shell to work from (a blank canvas).

Of course, first impressions count and so within our proposal we included a renovation of the entrance space. By installing new doors we were able to create a fresh, modern and light atmosphere within the reception area that was in keeping with the open plan feel we were incorporating elsewhere.

We then set about refurbishing the existing staircase and landing. While these spaces had a lot of potential, they were very dated and not in keeping with the contemporary aesthetic the office space was taking on.

We also suggested re-cladding the windows to help uphold the wall structure, preventing damage from general wear and tear and strong weather, as well as using stud walls to divide the large warehouse into smaller workspaces with seamless glass partitioning to aid natural light. Not only that, but we recommended a suspended ceiling to provide a clean and smooth finish to the internal ceiling of the new space, hiding all electrical wires and pipework too.

And it doesn’t end there; Kempston were after a meeting room in addition to a separate new boardroom (their existing boardroom was dated and lacked the technical facilities they desperately needed). With the boardroom and meeting room being a little way from the kitchen area, we proposed adding a kitchenette within the boardroom to make this workspace more self-sufficient.

About the project

We pride ourselves on providing a thorough end-to-end service to our customers which is exactly what we did on this project for Kempston Controls.

We were regularly and consistently on site to ensure the project ran smoothly, even building a reinforced wall to mount the clients all singing, all dancing 100kg television in the new boardroom! And this was no mean feat as it involved channelling out the concrete floor for connectivity from the boardroom table!

This particular phase of work at Kempston Controls has produced an impressive open-style workspace, a state-of-the-art boardroom, a separate new meeting room and an impressive entrance into the building through the stunning anthracite grey double doors.

Since completing this project, we have undertaken an additional 7 new projects for Kempston Controls which we cannot wait to show you… Watch this space!

Notes: before images are prior to demolition.