Simon Cook, UK Sales Director at IBL Lighting was on site for 5 days of the build.  Over the 5 days his role varied from providing initial efficient lighting schemes,  helping with installation and demolition to even making the breakfast rolls!  To help share his experience with others, he kept a diary of how the build was progressing this gives a great idea of the scheer scale of the whole project.

There I was sitting on the sofa doing my usual complaining about yet another TV Makeover programme and the lighting being completely ignored, when Katie, my wife, piped up with the, “why don’t you stop complaining and do something about it or shut up!”

“Right, I will then” I mumbled.

The email had barely left the laptop when the phone rang. “Hi, my name is Ian Osprey from BBC’s DIYSOS and we are working on a project for Children In Need. We are looking for someone to help with the lighting”

From this point on IBL Lighting became the main consultants, designers and suppliers to the Norris Green Youth Centre project.

Work began on the proposed plans to provide a bright, airy and pleasant atmosphere with more than just an eye on low maintenance and energy efficiency. By selecting a combination of single and twin lamped 26W Synergy Choice I was able to achieve the right balance. The Ecoseal Micro was the perfect option for the toilets and kitchen areas providing a good overall illuminance at a very low running cost and with the lamps scheduled to last for over 10,000 hours should mean no lamp changes for a good few years.

With the designs done it was time to sit back and wait and all that was left to do was to visit sight on day 1 to discuss the installation with Shane Hartley from HE Simm, the electrical contractors.

Diary Day 1.

• 0900hrs Arrive at site.
• 0930hrs Site Safety Briefing and Welcome Speech by Nick Knowles.
• 1000hrs No chance to get to speak to Shane as demolition has started. Not sure what to do.
• 1030hrs Have started to demolish the main Sports Hall ripping down the trunking.
• 1230hrs Lunch at the mobile canteen.
• 1330hrs Back into the Sports Hall and continuing the ripping out.
• 1800hrs Break for tea.
• 2200hrs Leave for hotel and a shower as I am covered from head to foot in dirt. Not what I had dressed for.

Day 2.

• 0800hrs Arrive at site and head straight back into the Sports Hall. There is already talk about design changes to the toilets but judging by the conversations of yesterday there may be a few more changes before this project is done.
• Missed the bacon butties.
• Cherry Pickers arrived so we can get on with removing the ceiling skin from the Sports Hall. The guys from HE Simms haven’t been able to make a start on first fixing yet but Billy is drilling holes for the new trunking.
• 1300hrs Lunch
• 1430hrs. Charlie Luxton and I discuss at length the design and the products I have put forward. Didn’t notice the camera crew filming us until we had finished.
• 1530hrs the joiners are ready for first fix in the upstairs break out area. I am made aware for the first time that there is an enclosed staircase going up along side the front wall and a rather heated debate ensues as to where the trunking is supposed to go.
• 1745hrs Nick Knowles calls me over to ask me on camera, how I managed to get myself involved so I told him about Katie.
• 1900hrs Break for tea again but there is still so much rubbish to take out. The skips have come and gone so many times. Little Ronnie has arrived during the day and this has brought much levity. I am really surprised that with so many trades all climbing over each other that there hasn’t been any confrontations. There is a great sense of purpose but can these guys really keep this up for another 8 days.
• 2130hrs Most of the demolition is done and the mezzanine floor is already going up above the Computer Room and Art Studio.
• I have to go now but I am really sad to be going. It has been such a great experience and there is so much more to be done. Good Luck to the whole team.

Day 8

• OK I couldn’t keep away.
• Left home at 0430hrs and arrived on site at 0800hrs. Long drive.
• What a transformation. I cannot believe the work that has been put in and the number of people on site seems to have increased
• Offered my services to Shane who put me to work as a labourer with the guys preparing and tailing up fittings for installation. It really seems to be coming together but with only 2 ½ days left I can’t see how in the world we will get finished.
• Lunch came and went in a blur as did tea.
• They have had to reduce the number of fittings in the Kitchen due to a change in the layout and the introduction of wall units. It’s not going to as bright as I would have liked but with all that has gone on we will just have to live with this and maybe add some fittings at a later date.
• 1400hrs. The fittings in the Music Room were supposed to be on a dimming circuit but only a switch circuit was put in so all the fittings have to be rewired. I think I got the blame for that and even though it was clearly marked on the drawing. I am not going to argue. Some very tired guys are not going to like hearing that so I will rewire them for switch live. Not the end of the world. The Recording Studio Consultant was not impressed with the fact that recessed fittings went in as sound transfer was an issue but they were sealed lenses on the front which had been planned all the way through. We both learned something about Recording Studios today I think.
• 2130hrs. Nick and the film crew are helping clear rubbish so the teams can have a clear start at things in the morning. They are going to need all the help they can get.
• 2200hrs. I am done. Off to the hotel

Day 9

• 0745hrs. Signed in again and back on with the guys.
• Made the bacon rolls this time.
• 1100hrs. Just waiting for the paint to dry so we can put the fittings in. This is crazy.
• 1600hrs. All the lights are in. Circuits on and tested. Time to chip in where needed.
• 2030hrs. Off to find the new hotel.

Day 10
0930hrs. Arrive at site.
Last minute snagging. Someone has forgotten to take the plastic off the inside of the IP65 lenses. Have to borrow a pile of carpet tiles that are still being fitted to reach the fittings. Halogen heaters are still drying the paintwork but Gabrielle has worked wonders on dressing the building. It looks amazing.
I get grabbed by Mark to go round the side of the building to take the plastic off the new windows and they want to film me doing it.
Have to move the cars and vans to make a herring bone effect of vehicles down the road. Finale filming starts with the walk down the road. Chris did it in 7 takes for the 3 cameras.
Lots of standing around before we finally went into the main Sports Hall to meet the Norreys Green Staff.
I’ve only got to drive the 240 miles home now!

What a life experience. I feel really privileged to have been involved in this and a big thank you to the company for allowing me to contribute time and products.

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