K2 completes new student accommodation in Portsmouth

K2 Consultancy is pleased to have issued practical completion on the 836 bedroom student accommodation development at Greetham Street, Portsmouth for Unite Students.

The striking 25 storey high-rise is an impressive feature on the Portsmouth city skyline which will now provide a home-away-from-home for Portsmouth University students.

Construction works began in December 2014, with a 20-month build programme, that was delivered on time and budget.

K2 conducted a detailed inspection of every room within the building, working with the contractor RG Group over a 12-week period.  The building was successfully handed over to the Unite Operations team on the 1st August and students will occupy the building from early September 2016.

Entrance

Unite Students employed K2 Consultancy as Project Managers, Employer's Agent and Cost Consultants for this scheme.  K2 were heavily involved at all stages of the project from planning, design, construction and handover.

The development is neighboured by network rail, Council offices, existing student accommodation buildings and part of the development oversails a public highway. K2 successfully liaised with and managed all stakeholders in this project to ensure that the building could be built without difficulty.

The development also compromises a Portsmouth City Council Market store which will be occupied by 12 local businesses.


K2 ensured that the Council's detailed specifications were adhered to during construction, which has resulted in an exceptional facility for the Council and local businesses.


Chris Sorenti, Senior Project Manager for Unite Students said:

“The completion of the new Unite development in Portsmouth will represent a significant addition to our portfolio. This new scheme will support our ambition to grow our market share of competitively priced student accommodation in Portsmouth where demand exceeds supply.  It has been a pleasure to work with K2 Consultancy, who have strived to deliver outstanding service to us in the past and this is no exception."

Matthew Loughlin, K2 Consultancy Director commented:

“We aim to always focus on a professional high-quality completion and are able to manage numerous stakeholders involved.  This represents one of the three schemes we are managing for Unite."

Paul Jackson, Project Manager for K2 added:

“Greetham Street Portsmouth proved to be a challenging and rewarding project.  Despite the obstacles faced by the team, through a combination of careful collaboration with the client Unite Group and team, the issues were overcome to make this high profile project a great success. The size and location of the impressive project demonstrate K2’s ability to secure major schemes throughout the country and fulfil our client’s needs effectively.”

Team hand over 

About K2:
K2 is a leading construction consultancy providing project management, cost advice and project planning in the Real Estate and Infrastructure sectors, including residential, health and commercial property, to owners and business occupiers.  In September 2014, K2 Consultancy merged their Quantity Surveying activities with Rider Hunt (London) to form a new specialist cost management business K2 Rider Hunt (London) based in Farringdon. Offices are in Gatwick and London.

A great place to study

New project: Chobham Manor Residential Development

K2 has been appointed to oversee the schedule management for Taylor Wimpey's' prestigious Chobham Manor residential development located adjacent to the Olympic Velodrome.

Constructed in three phases, K2 has been appointed to provide detailed construction schedules for Phase 1 which includes a combination of flats, maisonettes, and townhouses totalling 259 new homes.

Andy Mason, Associate Director at K2 said:

"This is yet another exciting appointment for K2 in the residential sector and an opportunity to again demonstrate our ability to pragmatically apply specialist programming and controls tools to enhance efficiency, reduce delivery times and lower out- turn cost."

Destined to become one of London’s most sought - after addresses, Chobham Manor is the first neighbourhood to be built on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

There will also have more than 300 shops on their doorstep – as well as restaurants, bars, and entertainment including a bowling alley, casino, and 17-screen cinema complex – at Westfield Stratford City.

The site is being developed by Chobham Manor LLP, a joint venture between London & Quadrant and Taylor Wimpey.

 Images are Artist Impressions courtesy of Taylor Wimpey

K2 Welcomes Jesse Levine, Canadian Tennis pro to England!

Who would have thought a Project Management Consultancy firm next to Gatwick Airport would have ties to a professional Canadian Tennis player, who played center court at Wimbledon this past June 2013.

Jesse Levine, 26 year old Canadian native tennis guru was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario the same city in Canada where Gillian, our newly appointed Marketing Manager’s family derives from. Both Jesse and Gillian met one another as infants and being born only months apart, they quickly became close friends.
When Jesse was 14 years old, his family made the tough decision to move to Boca Raton, Florida due primarily to his younger brother’s illness but ended up reaping huge rewards for Jesse’s tennis career.

While Jesse was visiting London to prepare for Wimbledon this past month, our Marketing Manager, and old friend of Levine’s sat down with the tennis pro to ask him a few questions. Jesse describes his feelings after his parents told him they were moving to Florida, a far distance from the capital of Canada. “I was nervous when we decided to move. It had nothing to do with my tennis it was because of my younger brother’s health. He was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and it ended up being positive for my tennis career and for my brother especially”.

After settling in the Sunshine coast, Jesse enrolled in the University of Florida and began playing for the Florida Gators Men’s Tennis team. “I had an unbelievable season”, Jesse explains but goes on, “in order to take tennis to the next level, I had to keep playing guys at the top level. College tennis is amazing, but I felt my game was ready”. Jesse was right. His performance and ability was way above average and once pro, he represented the United States from 2007 to 2012. However, with his dual citizenship Jesse recently decided to re-establish his national affiliation with Canada and support the country he was born into. “I always felt Canadian at heart since I was born there and lived there till I was 14. The decision was not too difficult as I wanted the opportunity to place Davis Cup and the Olympics for Canada one day”.

Levine playing at Queens June 2013

Back in 2005, Jesse won the Wimbledon boys' doubles championship with his doubles partner and a few years later, while representing the United States on tour, he accomplished his most substantial victory. In June 2009 Jesse defeated World No. 24 at the time (and former World No. 1) Marat Safin at Wimbledon. This was a huge triumph for Levine and was yet another milestone to add to his budding career. To date, the highest rank Jesse’s been awarded in his tennis profession is 69 in the world playing singles, October 1st 2012. “When you make the top 100, it really changes everything. And I feel like I'm just on the other side, knocking."

Jesse has played some impressive matches and has also displayed his remarkable skills at the Australian open, French Open, US open, Queens and Wimbledon. He’s already achieved so much at 26, and still has a bright and promising future ahead of him. It's not easy being a young, athlete balancing pressures and demands of sporting competitions along with educational stresses. But Jesse has handled himself professionally as a skilled tennis player, a hard working student, and a compassionate, friend, son and brother.  K2 Consultancy wishes him all the best in his future matches.