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'And now for something entirely different......' November 2011
This year, the company has yet again been the major construction player in a high-profile project involving one of the North East’s most iconic historic buildings - this time Langley Castle, which has been a dominant feature of the Northumbrian countryside for more than 650 years. In the early 18th century, Langley Castle was at the heart of a major episode in our national history when the then owner, James the 3rd Earl of Derwentwater, picked the wrong side in the Jacobin rebellion of 1715. He and his brother, Charles, paid the supreme penalty when they were executed at the Tower of London. Now playing a much more tranquil role as one of the UK’s only fortified medieval castle hotels, Langley delights and fascinates visitors from all over the world. Rather than involving the repair and restoration of historical features, however, the project was entirely different from MGM’s point of view in that it involved the construction of a pavilion of entirely modern design that was attached to the Castle’s Josephine Restaurant by a glass corridor and surrounded by a moat. The steel-framed, cladded building with its grass eco-roof will seat additional restaurant guests during busy periods and provide private dining space for small groups and - in particular - for wedding parties. The multi-functional design can also be converted into two smaller rooms. As hotel manager, Anton Philips, put it: "The new pavilion blends in to the surroundings and does not attempt to compete with the 14th century building." The pavilion was officially opened by The Mayor of Hexham, Councillor Robson, and celebrated by a stunning firework display. Langley Castle went on to win a silver award in the Small Hotel of the Year category at the 2011 Enjoy England Awards for Excellence while the Architects - Simpson & Brown - intend to enter the extension in the AJ Small Projects award. There are more pictures of the Pavilion and its official opening. View them by clicking here MGM wins ‘Conservation Oscar' June 2011
Situated on one of the original five medieval streets of Newcastle upon Tyne, 28-30 The Close - known locally as the Buttress - incorporates structural elements and features from many phases spanning more than 500 years. Retaining this complex historical integrity, while keeping modern interventions ‘honest’, was one of the major achievements of a project that has secured a viable future for a previously vandal-prone building - as well as contributing to the regeneration of the Quayside area. As main contractor, MGM worked with Edinburgh architect, Simpson & Brown, on a project that earned the approval of the panel of judges assessing the Building Conservation Award category in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North East Renaissance Awards - the so-called ‘Property Oscars’. It has automatically gone forward to the national RICS Awards. In the words of the judges: A challenging and complex project has successfully saved The Close from further deterioration and provided unique accommodation in the city. Brian Young, Managing Director of MGM, commented: With the requirement to repair all the significant elements of the building from different periods, this involved using appropriate materials and techniques and overcoming a host of problems. The result is a building fit for the iconic Quayside area. Being presented with our Award in front of more than 500 of the region’s property professionals is something everyone in the project team is exceptionally proud of." The earliest part of 28-30 The Close is probably a vaulted stone cellar dating back to the 13th century and the timber framing and masonry walling of later medieval tenements are incorporated in the existing structure. In the early 17th century, these three tenements were combined and comprehensively remodelled to create a grand merchant’s house. In the 19th Century, wealthy families were moving away from the riverfront and the building was again extensively remodelled for a new function as a warehouse. The existing ground floor warehouse frontage was formed at this period. In addition to repairing and preserving a variety of particularly significant features accumulated over the centuries, the current project has prepared the building for a new role as venue for a high-class restaurant and prestige offices. MGM builds extension to award winning castle hotel December 2010
It is building a new 50 square metre dining pavilion onto the west face of the historic Langley Castle, which is now a luxury hotel located in the South Tyne valley near Hexham. The dining pavilion will include floor-to-ceiling windows, special feature slate walls and a living roof planted with moss and grass. The extension has been designed by Simpson and Brown Architects, who MGM have worked with on several occasions on heritage projects including the recent restoration of a grade 1 listed building on Newcastle’s quayside. All the work is expected to be completed by March 2011. MGM wins new build contracts at two care homes November 2010
Old brewery restored for new biology June 2010
The grade II listed building, known as Leazes House and more recently Transport House, is an important part of Newcastle’s 18th century industrial heritage. From 1837 to 1968 it formed part of the Leazes Brewery. The main contractor BAM Construction employed MGM to use its renown expertise to fully restore and alter the building for its change of use. A point of interest in the property is the main staircase. Its design is one of only six in the country; the treads of the stair are cantilevered through timber stud partition walls on all levels. MGM restored the staircase and installed new ornamental wrought iron balustrades capped with a new walnut handrail. The conservations architect for the restoration of Leazes House was Mr Chris Baglee of Spence and Dower Architects and the overall project architect was Faulkner Brown. Mapping the past, building the future January 2009
28-30 The Close, known locally as ‘The Buttress’, is a Grade 1 listed building. The large merchant’s house, which probably combined living accommodation with warehouse space, was built in the 16th century. There were major renovations in the late 17th and early 19th centuries. In recent years it has been neglected and it has been on Newcastle City Council’s register of listed buildings at risk. MGM is working with Edinburgh architects Simpson & Brown, who specialise in historic buildings, to make the building ready for a major refurbishment as a restaurant and offices. Archaeologists have conducted a detailed inspection of the fabric of the building and have been involved in the excavations. “It’s been fascinating to work on this old building,” said Lance Rainey, joint managing director of MGM. “We discovered a well which was probably there when the house was built. We are storing many of the original stones at our premises in Walker on behalf of the archaeologists.” MGM has helped to renovate a number of historic buildings in the region, including Belsay Hall and Saltwell Towers, but ‘The Buttress’ is certainly one of the oldest. Award for barn conversion January 2008
Steve Gray of MGM and the architect Bryony Roff of Spence and Dover received special certificates for their work on the conversion at the awards ceremony on 25 January. MGM converted the derelict stone barn, part of the Kirkharle estate in Northumberland, into six craft workshops and retail space. The stone barn was facing the demolition when the owner John Anderson decided to revive Kirkharle, the ancestral home of Loraine family and the birthplace of the famous landscape gardener Capability Brown. The conversion has become part of the overall redevelopment of the site while retaining its original appearance. Partners in delivery of Decent Homes November 2007 MGM Ltd has started its first partnering arrangement with Morrison Facilities Services to deliver part of the Decent Homes programme in Gateshead. MGM will be managing the contract to bring 120 council properties in the Beacon Lough estate up to the Decent Homes standard. The work involves fitting new kitchens and bathrooms and refurbishment of the external fabric. It is expected to be completed in March 2008. Morrison plc is one of the leading support services groups in the UK, serving clients in the utility sectors as well as providing repair and maintenance and capital investment services to local authorities. Morrison Facilities Services is part way through a multi-million pound, five-year programme to upgrade public sector housing for the Gateshead Housing Company which is owned by Gateshead Council. "We are delighted to enter into this open book partnering arrangement with Morrison," said MGM joint managing director Lance Rainey. "MGM excels at this kind of work, and we hope that it will lead to many more opportunities." Two new managing directors April 2007 MGM Ltd has taken the unusual step of appointing two managing directors to replace the former managing director and founder of the company. Lance Rainey and Brian Young, who have worked for MGM for 18 and 10 years respectively, have taken over from Steve Gray, one of the three people who set up MGM in 1986. Steve Gray will continue as a director of MGM Ltd and he has also been appointed as operations director of Northern Bear plc, the regional building services group that acquired MGM Ltd in February 2007. "It may be unusual but it makes sense for us to have joint managing directors," said Steve Gray. "Lance and Brian work well together and they look after different sides of the business. Lance oversees the structural work and Brian deals with the private clients and heritage contracts." Back to top^ |
Last year, MGM’s award-winning contribution to the restoration of 28-30 The Close on one of the original five medieval streets of Newcastle upon Tyne helped to confirm the company’s reputation as a leading specialist in preserving the structural integrity and restoring the features of the region’s architectural heritage.
The conservation of a very special building that encapsulates the social and economic development of Newcastle riverfront has earned a prestigious ‘Property Oscar’ for Northern Bear Group’s specialist construction services company, MGM Limited.
MGM has further cemented its reputation as an expert in heritage construction work by winning the contract to build an extension to a 14th century castle.
MGM has started work on design and build contracts at two private residential care homes in North East England.
MGM has completed the restoration and refurbishment of the historic building at the heart of the University of Newcastle’s brand new medical science complex incorporating the Institute of Health and Society and the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology.
MGM is working with archaeologists on one of the oldest buildings on Newcastle’s historic quayside.
MGM’s barn conversion at Kirkharle Courtyard has won the award for the best conversion in the North-East at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Rural Building Awards, run in association with Knight Frank.