Building with Gipping We spoke to Paul Orriss, Joint Managing Director at Gipping Construction Ltd, about their involvement in one of the region’s most eyecatching cultural projects, and how they are coping with one of the most challenging periods for the industry as prices for labour and material continue to spiral upwards
Gipping signboards have become a familiar site around Suffolk and Essex. Can you H[SODLQDELWDERXWWKHKLVWRU\RIWKHʳUP and how you have built the business? Gipping was originally founded in 2004 by myself, Chris McEwen and Peter Blemings and we were originally working on projects in Essex mainly. Peter retired from the business LQZLWK$QG\/DʴLQMRLQLQJWKHERDUGDW the same time. Chris took a step back in in 2016 and myself and Andy and I stepped up to become Joint Managing Directors. I had previously been the Finance Director and had been working closely with Scrutton Bland for many years. When the other two founders of the business wanted to retire, Scrutton Bland were instrumental in assisting with the shareholder transfer arrangements as well as the succession planning that needed to be done.
Can you say a bit about how some of your more recent projects came about?
The geometric golden roof of the New Wolsey Theatre has made it one of the most memorable landmarks in Ipswich. What were the challenges on the project? The NW2 Participation Building and Theatre Square is located next to the main building for the New Wolsey Theatre, which was originally built in 1979. However, as anyone familiar with Ipswich will know, this space is also the roof of the Spiral Car Park. This meant that the community building needed to be created from a lightweight timber frame to minimise the load on the structure underneath. Cranes and other heavy equipment had to be positioned adjacent to the works as they couldn’t sit on top of the car park. We worked with Phil Waind at WGP Architects who had been tasked with designing an ergonomic space which would encourage collaborative working and provide a tech hub for developing digital skills in the arts sector. The building roof is clad in distinctive gold-coloured roof sheeting with a black rubber skin around the lower parts of the structure, but the design was geometrically challenging, with an unusually angled curving roof, so we had to work hard to make sure every aspect of the roof was correct. Outside at the front of the building there is a raised podium with a canopy, the theatre’s historic water fountain has been refurbished to provide outside activity space, which will hopefully be enjoyed over the summer months. We’re delighted that the project was commended in the 2021 Ipswich Society Awards, and won the best use of arts, culture of sport in placemaking in the Planning Resource 2021 awards.
Historically we had only undertaken occasional work in Ipswich, however in 2019 we commenced work with Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) on the development at the former Tooks Bakery site to help construct sixty new houses and associated infrastructure as well as carrying out remediation work on the ground there. The project went really well. At the same time we had the opportunity to tender on the community facility at the New Wolsey Theatre, which is part of the regeneration of the town’s Westgate district. We were delighted to be successful in the bid, and to be able to work on such a prestigious and visually striking project.
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