HC Deb 11 November 1999 vol 337 cc703-4W
Mr. Welsh

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will provide details of specification and cost for(a) carpets per square metre, (b) office furniture by type of item, (c) stone and brick by type used and (d) lighting for Portcullis House. [96725]

Sir Sydney Chapman

[holding answer 3 November 1999]: Of necessity the specifications used in the contracts for the Portcullis House project are lengthy, detailed documents. In summary, therefore, the information requested is as follows (with all the figures exclusive of VAT).

Carpet

Specification Fusion bonded cut pile carpet in 600mm x 600mm tiles with a single dot pattern on a contrasting background. Enhanced quality carpet for level 1 to achieve a weighted sound improvement index of 28dB. Cost per square metre for the supply and laying—£23 per square metre and £30 per square metre.

Office furniture

Specification Desks and tables—suited oak office furniture comprising 230 desks with cable management facilities, 140 meeting tables, 140 low tables, 920 under desk pedestals, 75 three draw filing cabinets and 75 four drawer filing cabinets. Office chairs—210 high back, upholstered, wide seated executive chairs with arms, seat and back height adjustment, lumbar support with forward and back tilt mechanism. 300 medium or low back, fabric upholstered operators' chairs on castors without arms with seat height adjustment and synchronised seat and back adjustment. 890 medium back, fabric upholstered visitors'/ meeting table chairs without arms. Easy chairs—250 fully upholstered, fairly firm but comfortable armchairs in fabric upholstery on glides. Leather seating—design, supply and installation, including all fixings, for leather squabs and backs for the window seats. Worktops and shelving—design, supply and installation of shelving and worktops with solid English oak edge lippings overlaid in English oak veneer. The shelving system is to be designed for ease of adjustment by the users. Support brackets are to be finished in a polyester powder coating.

Estimated contract values

  • Desks and tables—£685,000
  • Office chairs—£440,000
  • Easy chairs—£110,000
  • Leather seating—£205,000
  • Worktops and shelving—£380,000
(Each of these contracts also includes the provision of furniture in areas other than offices).

Stone

Specification Courtyard paving—carboniferous limestone in slab sizes of between 600mm x 600mm and 780mm x 780mm and various other sizes on a cementitious screed base. Stone faced planters, seats, pool and water feature. External paving—the detailed design, fabrication, supply and installation of a natural stone paving to terrace, arcade and general pavement/road areas, laid either in a traditional manner or with lightweight void filler over asphalt waterproofing. Sandstone columns—supply only sandstone blocks of various dimensions cut, dressed and worked to accommodate reinforcing mechanism. Colour range pink to red, predominantly light red. Crushing strength 40N/per square metre (tested to ASTM C170-87). Modulus of rupture 6.9N/per square metre (tested to ASTM C99/87). Granite plinths and walling—supply granite blocks dressed and worked to accommodate stressing mechanisms. Block sizes approximately 1300mm x 1400mm x 900mm and 290mm x 1000mm. Colour range—pink to red predominantly. Crushing strength 140N/per square metre (tested to ASTM C170-87). Modulus of rupture ION/per square metre (tested to ASTM C99/87).

Estimated contract values

  • Courtyard paving—£560,000
  • External works—£1 million
  • Sandstone columns—£3.6 million
  • Granite plinths and walling—£580,000
(The sandstone contract was on a supply only basis, as was most of the work in the granite contract, the scope of which was reduced for technical reasons after the contract was awarded. The contract for the external works also covers the gates and railings). Brick is not being used on the project. Lighting—there are various types of light fittings which form part of a much larger package for the provision of design and installation of electrical services within the building.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the estimated cost per square metre of office space for Portcullis House. [96724]

Sir Sydney Chapman

[holding answer 3 November 1999]: As an extension to the facilities provided in the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House provides much more than office space. Of the six main floors, four are to be used for offices with the actual office space taking up less than a third of the total floor area. Based on the current forecast, the estimated capital cost of the building, including the office space, is £6,200 per square metre (excluding VAT).

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