Utopia — The Great Indoors

Keen to have a high profile position in Bristol, Utopia has agreed terms to relocate to 17 Whiteladies Road. The period building built on five stories boasts many original features and fantastic staircase will be home to our new HQ. We at Utopia recognise that buildings like this have their own beauty and with respectful creative design can be re-born with modern facilities to create a fantastic office environment. We launched a design competition within our own team and the results were a great display our in-house creative skills. All proved the individual originality of our designers, but the overall winner was Tony Lawrence whose design embraced the Utopia ethos ‘spun’ the win for him!
Our own fit-out starts in mid October for our relocation in early December 2008, with the site being an open house ready to welcome any visitors by prior appointment to view how ‘The Great Indoors’ starts as soon as we set foot on site.

Utopia Works Operations Manager Rod Lugg was the first to become a proud Dad with the birth of his third child Aaron on 09/07/08 weighing in at 7lb 14oz, Lead Foreman Kristian Gould’s wife delivered her second, Ruby Jane, on 13/9/08 weighing in at 8lb 7oz. Other Utopia wives are also heavily pregnant, Project Manager Steve Burchill is waiting for his fist born and day and Utopia Director Kevin Mashford is looking forward to his second, due October 15, to complete the Utopia quad! … there is definitely something in the Utopia Water!!!

Kevin Mashford and Dieter Wood enjoyed a fantastic day’s motor racing with Alder King and Knight Frank at Bedford autodrome. The day was scheduled in summertime, but in true British fashion, it rained all morning, but that didn’t succeed in dampening the spirits. The racing saw Dieter Wood scoop the trophy for the Formula Palmer single seater’s before being scooped up by the recovery vehicle for crashing a Caterham superlight in the wet conditions! The overall standings for the day saw Martin Booth taking the top position, with Kevin just putting a nose in front of Dieter in the points for the Utopia match.

With King Sturge acting as their contract administrators, Utopia has won the fit out of national charity, HOME FARM TRUST, who provide support for people with learning disabilities and their families. The new 10,000 sqft HQ is within the newly built Brook Office Park in Emersons Green, Bristol will provide new offices and a meeting space for the charities board and administration. HFT plan to relocate in October and we look forward to welcoming them in.

Following initial start-up investment by Civil Engineering and Groundwork’s contractor d20 into both Utopia companies Kevin Mashford and Dieter Wood entered into negotiations to buy-back the equity held by d20. On July 23 the final deal was signed at Burges Salmon’s headquarters in Bristol. This saw Kevin Mashford and Dieter Wood gain full and equal control in Total Utopia ltd and saw Kevin Mashford appoint Garry Nash to the board of Directors for Utopia Works Ltd.

Utopia were successfully appointed to carry-out the £500k refurbishment and fit-out of the lower ground floor of South Plaza Bristol which the Bristol PCT will take refurbishment of in November 2008. Work is underway on this prominent office building and is currently two weeks ahead of programme.
Utopia have previously fitted out two floors for The Soil Association, and a third for CIP Solicitors and is delighted to be putting the knowledge gained on these works to complete 52,000sq ft in the building. As with all our other projects here, we plan to deliver this one, on time, on budget…. No Surprises’.

Utopia have provided joint agents King Sturge and Alder King a marketing suite in the Exeter’s new 72,000 sqft Grade A office space, The Senate. Utopia delivered schemes where potential occupiers can visualise the space and furniture to conduct meetings on-site. Kevin Mashford added “Our suites enable potential occupiers of space to understand how they may occupy the space and the benefits to their business. Helping companies build a business case for the requirement of new premises is a huge and important task, and enabling them to understand the benefits and costs is crucial to this process”.

The last day before Christmas was a sad day for Utopia, having been its first employee in 2004, Steve Burchill decided to work at pastures new. This made him the first and only person to resign from Utopia however, he left with gifts from us all and best wishes in his new role. Told during his exit interview, ‘The door is always open’ maybe a popular thing to say but it was meant. After just three months with his new employer, Utopia welcomed Steve back with open arms enabling us to boast that we have never lost a member of staff… Just that one just had a long busman’s holiday!

Following the successful fit-out of EC Harris Exeter office, Utopia’s skills were called upon to fit-out their new South West HQ at Portwall Place, Bristol. The colourful scheme incorporated many ideas to allow the business to embrace new ways of working and a fantastic environment to host project staff, visitors, clients and a business enhancing events and functions. See why ECH are so pleased by clicking here.

Utopia has relocated its Exeter offices to No. 2 Southernhay West right in the heart of Exeter’s thriving business district. Our new space occupies a position where we can serve the popular Southernhay Gardens within walking distance, which is the hub of many of Exeter’s professional services and at the heart of many new office developments. The move into Exeter’s centre is crucial to our continued strategy to be the most professional and respected commercial design and build company in the South West region.

Team Exeter takes the Utopia “Black Tractor Trophy” – “Ashes” style. The Utopia “Black Tractor Trophy” teed off in style this week with an Ashes style tournament at Exminster Golf Club.  Team Exeter’s Warren Pashley was first to tee off in a closely run match only favouring Exeter on the second to last hole.  A stunning tee shot by Team Exeter’s Garry Nash on the final hole secured a victory by just three points. Team Bristol’s Kevin Mashford and Rod Lugg were devastated and have vowed the ‘Black Tractor’ heads North next month. They say “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, but Utopia dull?  Never!  Well done Team Exeter!

Safe as houses – with Utopia, committed to safe sites. As of this month, all Utopia Directors and Project Management staff are officially first aid qualified, giving all our clients additional assurance of our commitment to safe sites.  It’s all just part of our “can do” attitude. With our team on board, you’re in safe hands!

Utopia even satisfies the architectural specialists winning the contract for SIV Architectural Recruitment’s new Head Office. SIV Architectural recruitment have brought on board Utopia to design and fit-out their prestigious new head office on Bristol’s Queen Square.  No challenge is too great for our team, and we’re looking forward to working with the leading architectural recruiting firm in the region.  We’re set to impress and it’s a tough audience.  Case study coming soon.

EC Harris reappoints Utopia, this time for the Flagship South West Office. On the back of the successful refurbishment of the Exeter Regional Office, EC Harris have reappointed Utopia for a complete design and fit-out of the flagship South West office in Portwall Place. The space brings the implementation of refreshed working practices alive with a 6,000 sq ft high spec office including a new hot desking approach with bespoke design for break out spaces, client “drop in” centres and client entertaining.

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