SMC recently completed the construction of the new world HQ & depot for First Group PLC.

The project took the form of the complete redevelopment of the companies existing premises in Aberdeen’s King Street. New HQ offices have been built and connected to the historic old building which had previously housed the offices. This part of the building was comprehensively upgraded and remodelled while all other buildings on the site were demolished.

A major new garage / depot building was also built providing state of the art facilities for running the operations in north-east Scotland and maintaining the local fleet of buses.

Meanwhile all services, drainage and surfacing were renewed.

First Group, meanwhile, continued to occupy the site throughout and to run bus and servicing operations. This raised many issues relating to the management of the site and operations and required very close liaison and co-operation between SMC and the client. Work was phased, handovers were in agreed in stages and unusually, areas of the site were occupied by SMC during the day but reverted to the client at night.

The result however s a very high quality facility in a traditional location and earlier this year, HRH Princess Anne, the Princess royal performed the official opening.