In June 2024, Coventry University took a major step towards its 2030 net zero carbon target by installing nearly 800 photovoltaic (PV) panels across five prominent campus buildings: Sir Frank Whittle, Charles Ward, The Hub, The Cycle Works, and Alma.

Baily Garner was appointed to deliver full design and project management services, supporting the university’s goal of clean energy generation with minimal operational disruption. Our team developed detailed performance specifications and installation drawings for the panels, tailored to suit each building’s unique characteristics and infrastructure.

Working closely with the university’s facilities team, contractor Geo Green Power, and other key stakeholders, we carried out extensive surveys and coordination to ensure seamless integration. This included aligning our designs with the university’s fire alarm, building management, and high-voltage systems—meeting all employer’s requirements while navigating tight government funding deadlines.

The project presented a number of challenges. We had to work within a live university setting, carefully coordinate around active infrastructure, and ensure the works progressed without impacting students or staff. Our approach focused on collaborative design, innovative planning, and maintaining close communication throughout.

Coventry University has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. As part of this mission, the university is removing gas supplies from seven key buildings and connecting them to new district heating mains operated by BRING Energy and Coventry City Council.

This ambitious decarbonisation project involves major infrastructure upgrades and roadworks across Coventry City Centre and must be delivered while keeping all affected buildings fully operational throughout.

Baily Garner was appointed to lead a wide range of activities to support the transition. These include determining connection load requirements, assessing alterations to plantrooms, and planning enabling and strip-out works. We are also responsible for coordinating temporary boiler plant installations, managing the transition process to avoid service disruption, assisting with contract and tender processes, and providing day-to-day site oversight.

Understanding the university’s heating and hot water demands was essential, so we carried out thorough technical evaluations to determine temporary plant needs and available plantroom space. All work is being aligned with Coventry University’s financial profile and specific design requirements, particularly around network temperatures.

The project commenced in June 2024 and is set to complete in Spring 2026, followed by a 12-month defects period. Open communication with the university and its energy partners has been central to ensuring smooth delivery and minimal impact on daily campus operations.

We undertook a detailed review of the feasibility design initially presented by the MPS. Our design team identified several elements that required updating to align with the latest client design guidance. We worked closely with both the Lead Hand and the main client to develop a revised scheme that met all functional and operational objectives. This included the renewal of a large roof light and the integration of new ventilation systems. We also managed the tender process and collaborated with the selected contractor to coordinate the decanting of staff and horses to temporary stables.

Baily Garner was appointed by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to lead the full refurbishment of a key operational building in London. The priority: deliver a modern, flexible working environment while ensuring the facility remained fully operational throughout the works.

The refurbishment aimed to support a more agile and collaborative workplace. This included reducing traditional desk setups in favour of open-plan layouts, improving welfare provisions such as lockers and staff relaxation areas, and integrating heightened security measures throughout the site.

Baily Garner provided a full multidisciplinary service from RIBA Stage 1 to 7. To ensure operations were unaffected, we engineered a temporary manifold power system in the courtyard, enabling switchovers without any loss of power to critical services. All construction materials were routed via basement and courtyard vents, avoiding the main circulation routes of the building.

Our architects worked in close consultation with MPS staff to reflect user needs in the final design. Welfare zones were designed to support staff wellbeing through calming layouts and materials, while reception and secure areas were enhanced with bespoke security solutions.

From a cost consultancy perspective, we preemptively addressed inflation risks by advising early procurement of key mechanical and electrical components. This allowed us to remain within budget and even extend the scope to include basement-level refurbishments, adding extra changing and locker space.

The London Borough of Camden appointed Baily Garner to deliver energy performance improvements to 5–7 Belsize Grove, a hard-to-treat 19th-century Victorian villa located in a conservation area.

The brief focused on enhancing energy efficiency, thermal comfort and occupant health, while managing moisture and ventilation in line with PAS2035 standards. A key objective was to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels—ultimately helping residents cut energy bills.

Baily Garner acted as contract administrator and PAS2035 coordinator, taking on a multidisciplinary role. We led a fabric-first retrofit strategy, installing vapour-permeable, high-specification external wall insulation and replacing all windows with high-performance alternatives that respected the villa’s original appearance.

The works were planned with great care to minimise disruption to residents in this densely populated and continuously occupied building. The balance between conservation constraints and sustainable improvement was central to our approach.

The project reached Practical Completion in June 2024. It now stands as a model for effective, low-carbon retrofitting in challenging conservation area contexts—delivering tangible improvements in energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term affordability for residents.

Baily Garner delivered a comprehensive Cat B fitout for Saxon Weald’s three-storey office building in Horsham, supporting their ambition to create a sustainable, future-ready workspace.

We acted as Employer’s Agent, Project Manager and Cost Consultant throughout. Our Building Services Engineering team oversaw M&E commissioning to ensure systems met both SKA Gold+ and zero-carbon aspirations.

The project included a full strip out of existing fabric and services, with all removed furniture donated to a local school. We then delivered a full Cat B fitout designed around user wellbeing and environmental performance.

To support zero-carbon goals, we removed the building’s reliance on gas, installing an air source heat pump for heating and 50m² of photovoltaic panels for on-site electricity generation. Minor alterations to the façade—such as timber cladding and a glass canopy—improved the building’s visual appeal and material diversity.

Pre-construction, we spent time aligning all stakeholders on design detail and delivery approach. This collaboration helped ensure smooth progress once works began.

During COVID-19, potential delays and cost increases—especially around lift supply—were proactively managed. We mitigated risk by ordering the lift two months before contract signature, ensuring it didn’t impact programme or budget.

The result is a modern, environmentally focused office that meets SKA Gold+ standards and is ready for a zero-carbon future—delivered on time and without additional cost.

Whitnash Town Council and Warwick District Council set out to create a new community hub that would serve as a shared space for local residents. The vision was to deliver a multifunctional facility that included a sports hall, changing rooms, WCs, a café, kitchen, town council offices, a library, and a new car park. The project was supported by a range of funding sources, including the National Lottery, Sport England, and Warwickshire County Council. With such diverse funding streams, the budget was extremely tight, and the client needed a design and delivery approach that could meet high expectations for cost control, quality, and timely completion. A key requirement was that the existing sports pitches remain operational throughout the construction period to avoid any disruption to community use and council revenue.

Baily Garner was appointed to provide architectural and building services engineering across all RIBA stages (0–7). We began by formulating the project brief in alignment with the specific requirements of each funding body. A feasibility report was produced, offering several concept options for review by Whitnash Town Council and other stakeholders. Throughout the design process, we proactively managed risks and worked closely with the client to prioritize needs and identify areas where cost savings could be achieved without compromising quality. Sustainability was a key focus, and we recommended the use of Air Source Heat Pumps for heating and designed the roof to accommodate future photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Our design team reviewed and developed the original permitted scheme, identifying opportunities to enhance the layout and increase unit numbers. Midway through, we successfully incorporated a rooftop extension via a carefully managed change process, ensuring coordination, planning compliance and programme continuity.

Despite the challenges of COVID-19 during the construction phase, we maintained momentum through agile project leadership and close collaboration with the contractor. Weekly site visits and ongoing communication ensured a consistent design approach and the timely delivery of new homes, including studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments.

While Phase 1 of the Maylands development, named ‘Maylands Plaza’, included 130 flats and 10 new shops, Phase 2 was focused on delivering 158 affordable homes for Hightown Housing Association. This included apartments and houses spread across four blocks. We were appointed by Hill Partnerships to provide Mechanical and Electrical consultancy, with a focus on supporting Hightown’s sustainability goals through the integration of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) in every home.

Early in the project, we identified challenges with ASHP installation due to balcony orientations and maintenance constraints. By leading monthly Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) workshops and producing detailed floorplate drawings early, we enabled swift design adaptations that kept the project on track.

We also addressed complex fire safety requirements, selecting a backup generator to serve essential systems within basement height restrictions. The result was energy-efficient, sustainable homes with fire-safe infrastructure, delivered through proactive problem-solving and collaboration.