WP3901a - Creative Industries Enterprise Centre - AWARD

The Council is looking for one contractor for the Internal and External refurbishment works of the Guildhall to create a new Creative Industries Enterprise Centre (CIEC) using a 2 stage procurement process via a mini competition under the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) Lot 1.

Walsall Council has been successful in securing funding from Central Government through their Town Deal and Cultural Development Funds to acquire and re-purpose the derelict Grade 2 listed former Guildhall, the former Police Station and 32/34 Goodall Street buildings to be used as a Creative Industries Enterprise Centre (CIEC).

The CIEC will provide an opportunity to those with creative skills and industry knowledge seeking an innovative and alternative avenue from which to find employment. It will form part of a wider town ecosystem designed to support creative industries success, as well as supporting the future health and vitality of the town centre.

The new larger premise in the town centre, presents a unique opportunity to implement many of the current plans and activities and identified future opportunities, such as an enhanced makerspace, café/informal meeting space, tap room, artisan workspace, meeting rooms, and craft retail outlets. The project aims to secure one of three historical properties fronting the High Street in the St Matthews Quarter, which are currently neglected and vacant and bring them back into economic use bringing vitality and life back into this area.

The CIEC will be run by the Social Enterprise Organisation - Urban Hax who successfully developed multi-purpose "makers space" for a number of startup businesses with Walsall and provide shared work-shop type space for a range of small craft industries. The makerspace will intend to give the public access to tools and equipment that are not commercially available. Through talks, classes, workshops, collaborative projects, and other activities, to encourage research, knowledge exchange, learning, and mentoring in safe, clean, workspaces for projects related to art, science, and technology. The project will provide creative individuals the space and facilities to run their own business and support them as their businesses grow

Works overview

Following early pre-market engagement with contractors' designs have been developed to RIBA 4 (with exclusion of contractor design portions) and enabling stripping out works are currently being undertaken and will have completed prior to the contract start of the project.

Works will comprise the external and internal refurbishment. External repairs will be undertaken to the building elevations. Internally the building will be reconfigured to provide a flexible makerspace.