Apr 23 - Number Six Extension “Nearing Completion”
Work on the new extension to No 6 Convent Place is nearing completion. The building is buzzing with the movement of office furniture, PC terminals and files whilst tradesmen continue to work on the finishing touches. The new state-of the art extension will add much-needed space and all the technological innovations needed to bring Government’s Central Headquarters into the 21st century.
The extension has doubled the amount of available office space and it provides a new Emergency/Civil Contingency Room in order to assist the essential services to deal with any major incident on the Rock or in the waters around it. The new building will provide several conference rooms which were almost non-existent in its predecessor and thus it will offer a better service to the many members of the community who do business at No 6. There will also be a new, purpose- built Press Centre with all the technology needed by today’s fast-moving media.
To make the building possible, all the old add-ons to the original listed building were pulled down to allow for the connection between the old and new structure. Extra work was necessary to underpin the walls of the EUID building and the southern façade of No 6 in order to strengthen sections of the old random rubble wall foundations which, worryingly, were found to be insufficient to carry the weight of the building.
Interestingly, the floor of Chief Minister’s old office and various areas on the third storey were found to be infested with termites and it was necessary to replace almost all the relevant beams and floorboards. Also, the old roof was structurally insecure and so considerable extra work was required to make it safe. Finally, the old building contained large amounts of asbestos which had to be removed by specialist contractors.
Also benefitting from the new extension will be the teachers, parents and children of St Mary's School where, once the work is complete, there will be new parking, drop-off areas and seating areas. The Government wishes to thank them all for their patience.
Is it hoped that the new extension at No 6 will be complete by the end of June – just 13 months after work began. Despite all the noise and dust, the work has been done whilst most of the staff of No 6 continued with their work. The Government adds that no-one will be more pleased to see the end of this impressive project than them.
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