Those are the words of Lowry Building & Civil Engineering Contracts Manager, Graham Baskin after the completion of the new Eakin Bros car showroom at Maydown. The new 580 sq mt building comprises a main showroom at the front with a workshop to the rear along with a parts store and office suite.
Founded 96 years ago Eakin Bros has been serving the North west for four generations of the same family with three generations still heavily involved in the business – Jack Eakin, his sons, John and Peter and grandson, Jack. The business employs 35 people but that figure could be set to rise now the new showroom is completed.
“We became involved in the project back at the tendering stage last September during which time we also met with the client and architect to offer advice and value engineer some aspects of the plan,” said Graham Baskin.
“We were able to make tweaks which didn’t impact on the architectural vision or the fabric of the building. Instead we were able to offer value-for-money to our client – we are always very open and transparent with our clients and if we feel there is a better and more cost effective way of doing something then we will raise it.
“We had really good ongoing communication with our client on this job and for me this was key to the smooth running of the project.”
Lowry’s were on the ground at the beginning of October for a project which had a completion date of April. By this stage though all parties were on the same page with a very clear vision of how to proceed.
“We were able to commit to this tight turnaround because of the planning and good communication we had with Eakin Bros and the architect,” said Graham.
“We had a good team on the job and we were able to liaise with third-party contractors, again in co-ordination with the client, to successfully complete the job on time.
“We are very pleased with the finished showroom and it is certainly a job we are proud to put our name to.”
Although experienced with buildings of this nature and size it is the first time Lowry’s have built a car showroom but it is the kind of project they will be happy to take on in the future.
“We are very pleased with the finish at Eakin Bros – the building really does look sharp,” said Graham. “There were some tricky aspects such as concealing some of the services and the painted ceiling along with the lighting. Being a car showroom the lighting was an important element and we really took our time and focused on getting this aspect exactly right.
“It was very pleasing to attend the showroom’s opening night and to hear some very kind words from the client. We are pleased with the final outcome but it is more important that the client is happy.” Peter Eakin paid tribute to the ‘professionalism’ Lowry’s brought to the project.
“We have been in business for 96 years but this new building marks a new chapter for us,” said Peter. “Lowry’s were a first class company to work with, they stuck rigidly to the task of getting the job completed on time. The people on site were all very professional, they were certainly the right people to drive the job forward.
“We are certainly very pleased with how the showroom has turned out, the finish throughout is of a very high standard and we are looking forward to this new chapter in the business.”
Lowry Building & Civil Engineering
The Old Bank, 7 John Street, Castlederg BT81 7AW.
T: 028 8167 8646
W: www.lowrybuilding.co.uk
Sub Contractors
The Castlederg company also coated the steelwork in fire resistant paint and installed the firestop throughout the new car showroom.
A firestop is a form of passive fire protection that is used to seal around openings and between joints in a fire-resistance-rated wall or floor assembly. Firestops are designed to maintain the fireproofing of a wall or floor assembly allowing it to impede the spread of fire and smoke while the coat of fire resistant paint on the steelwork provides one hour of protection in case of a fire.
“We were very pleased with the finish on this job,” said Dessie Roulston. “It was very pleasing that our work was praised at the showroom’s opening night.”
D. Roulston & Sons were on the Eakin Bros job, intermittently for approximately two months and have an excellent working relationship with the contractor, Lowry Building & Civil Engineering Ltd.
“I began my working career back in the 1960s with Lowry’s,” said Dessie. “I began as a joiner then served my time as a painter. “We have always had a very good working relationship with Lowry’s and this job was no different.”
T: 028 8167 9250
Innovated Aluminium Technology Ltd (IAT) supplied and fitted the polyester powder-coated aluminium curtain walling and external doors at the new Eakin Bros car showroom at Maydown.
Working on a project which included large expanses of glazed areas, solar gain proved to be an issue for the team at IAT.
To prevent a greenhouse effect and a build-up of heat in the building, IAT used high performance solar control glass. The Eglinton Company also liaised with the cladding contractor, to ensure the various interfaces within the buildings envelope where glass met the cladding was air, watertight and aesthetically pleasing IAT supplied and fitted a bi-folding door system for cars entering the showroom.
“We were really pleased with how the job went, there were no major issues and we completed it in a timely manner,” said IAT Managing Director, Leslie McClements.
Innovated Aluminium Technology (IAT) provides aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling and aluminium glazing systems throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. The company has enjoyed rapid growth and now has a team of 12 staff and a number of sub- contractors.
T: 028 7181 0829
E: info.iat@aol.co.uk
Ritchie Hart & Co installed the disabled access lift at the new £1 million Eakin Bros showroom at Maydown.
The product installed was an Aritco 7000 platform lift which has been designed for the most demanding environments: busy schools, shops and residential buildings.
Practical and versatile, it’s been engineered to achieve the highest standards of quality, safety and service life. Ritchie Hart & Co is the main agent for Aritco in Northern Ireland with more people now installing lifts in new builds as well as retrofitting in existing buildings.
T: 028 9065 4594
W: www.ritchiehart.co.uk
Noone Construction carried out the internal plastering work throughout the new Eakin Bros car showroom at Maydown.
The Londonderry-based company specialises in all types of plastering including restoration work and new builds – both interior and exterior.
With over 20 years in business, Noone Construction has worked with Lowry Building and Civil Engineering Ltd on a number of previous jobs and enjoys a good working relationship with the contractor.
Michael Noone
T: 078 8579 0196
E: nooneconstruction@hotmail.co.uk
Precision Mechanical Contractors Ltd played an integral role in the successful completion of the new Eakin Bros Car Showroom and Workshop at Maydown, Campsie.
As the mechanical contractor we were responsible for the delivery of the full mechanical package including: Gas-fired room sealed unit heaters to workshop and show room areas, LTHW gas-fired heating system to WC areas and offices, HVAC systems to all office areas, and also the installation of plumbing, fixtures and fittings to all areas.
“This was a fast-moving project, the job went very well and was completed on time and within budget, said Precision Senior Manager, Ian Gillespie.
This project is one of a number of local projects undertaken by Precision Mechanical Contractors Ltd including Banagher Sports Pavillion, Newbuildings Primary School, Foyle Womens Aid and Altnagelvin Hospital Ward 4.
“The company was delighted to work with Lowry Building and Civil Engineering and Eakin Bros on this project,” said Ian Gillespie.
T: 028 7186 0135.
E: ian@precisiongroup.co.uk
