ICO Global Communications, Uxbridge

Spice Design were appointed in the latter part of 1997 by ICO Global Communications, a satellite communications company, which has a distribution agreement with over 91 countries to provide satellite telephone services.

The corporation which is preparing for a launch of 12 No. satellites over the next three years, are basing their satellite control centre and back up management centre in their new Headquarters building at Cowley Business Park, Uxbridge, UK.

Spice were invited to produce proposals based on their experience from previous control rooms planned and designed for EUTELSAT and EUMETSAT. Spice were subsequently requested to manage the ‘fitting out’ contract, which included extensive alterations to the electrical and mechanical services, to provide 24 hour support for the intensive programme of satellite launches. Due to the intensive nature and condensed programme,

Spice formed a project team including the Quantity Surveyor, the LG Partnership, and Hilson Moran, service engineers. The project team produced a conventional tender package which went out to four specialist main contractors. Following careful selection and shortlising, the successful contractor was Kvaerner Trollope and Colls who were considered to be capable of providing a full scope of building experience covering external works as well as the management of specialist interior and fitting out sub-contractor.