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University College London, Marshgate

Foodservice Solutions

Opened in 2023, Marshgate is part of UCL East, a new world-class campus located on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A space designed to transcend the boundaries of traditional academic activities and deliver game changing approaches to research deserves an equally hospitable foodservice offering and Gratte Brothers was therefore delighted to deliver the design development and installation of commercial catering facilities across 4 levels of this 7-storey new build.

Project Information

Client:
University College London
Main Contractor:
Mace Group (PREACH)
Sector:
Education
Duration:
12 Months
Services:
Commercial Catering Facilities

Scope of Works

Our works included delivery of all commercial catering facilities required for UCL to offer its students, staff and the public, 4 individual and unique food and drink units. UCL Marshgate’s offering includes a public café on the ground floor, staff dining facilities on the second floor, a meeting room support area on the fourth floor and a senior common room café on the seventh floor.

The main kitchen within this facility is attached to the staff dining area and is comprised of specialist cold rooms, cook suites, ventilation systems with UV protection and bespoke servery counters. On the seventh floor, a second kitchen has been designed and delivered to serve an adjacent café and is self-contained to adequately support the operations with appropriate storage, cooking and washing up facilities.

Project Challenges & Successes

COVID-19, Brexit and the Russian invasion of the Ukraine all had an impact during the project programme and the repercussions needed to be closely monitored to avoid delaying the programme or having to vary from the original specification. The main challenge faced was that the café and staff dining counters were specified to be clad in birch panels however this material was in severe shortage in the UK at the time of installation. After a focused effort to find alternative methods of resourcing alongside proposing alternatives, the team was able to achieve the client handover on time.

Following handover of all areas, a training plan was agreed with the client and operational team to encompass a detailed overview of the catering facilities delivered as well as specific equipment training by the relevant manufacturers to ensure a seamless transition for the client.

Due to our successful delivery of this project, we were delighted to be appointed as the maintenance provider for all of the commercial catering equipment installed on site.

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