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All rise for BTP Architects in Oxford Combined Courts

BTP Architects have been in court – for all the right reasons.

We were tasked with remodelling recently vacated offices, maximising the use of space by changing it in to two additional hearing rooms within existing court building in the centre of Oxford

BTP is working with national contractor ISG, a member of the Ministry of Justice Strategic Alliance Framework on the Court Reform Programme, to rationalise parts of the MOJ estate across the Midlands and Home Counties.

As the contractor’s architect and lead designer, BTP and the rest of the team faced several challenges.

The project was completed in a tight timescale of just 16 weeks, with all the works undertaken outside normal working hours to avoid disruption to the Court Service.

As there was limited access to the building before work started there was little opportunity to fully investigate the structure before internal demolition and opening up started on site, and limited available archive information on the building resulted in a few surprises once the works started on site, including a car servicing mechanic’s pit from a former use of the site.

BTP was required to make the best use of the space available within the existing building, to achieve the functional and spatial requirements of a modern hearing room and ensure that the required lines of sight within the hearing rooms were not compromised by the structural columns.

Rod Hook, Contracts Manager with ISG, said: “We chose BTP to work with us on this challenging project because of their experience and understanding of what was required. They dealt with every architectural challenge – calmly and professionally. Just what was needed on such a time-sensitive remodelling job.”

BTP are continuing to work with ISG to deliver a number of other projects under the Court Reform Programme.

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