Representatives from Northern Ireland-headquartered McLaughlin & Harvey recently joined client BAE Systems to celebrate the official opening of the Janet Harvey Hall, a significant new shipbuilding facility on the banks of the River Clyde in Scotland.

The project saw a combined effort from McLaughlin & Harvey's construction and civil engineering teams, delivering a more efficient and safer environment for BAE Systems' operations.

The ambitious undertaking was completed in two key phases. Phase one involved extensive civil engineering works, where the wet basin earmarked for the hall was meticulously drained and infilled. This colossal task required over 430,000 tonnes of sand and stone, including approximately 318,000 tonnes of sand dredged directly from the River Clyde. Before the reinforced concrete foundations could be laid, 5,000 metres of steel piles were installed to ensure a solid base.

John Mariner, Operations Director – Civils at McLaughlin & Harvey, commented on the collaborative effort: "This is a brilliant example of the emphasis on collaboration at McLaughlin & Harvey. Our ability to take what was once a wet basin, infill it and create a solid structure for our construction team to build on demonstrates McLaughlin & Harvey's ability to work across disciplines seamlessly."

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Following the initial civil engineering, phase two saw McLaughlin & Harvey's construction team erect the vast shipbuilding facility. This required over 6,000 tonnes of steel and more than 20,000m³ of concrete. The completed hall now houses two electric overhead travelling cranes and two Goliath cranes, boasting an incredible combined weight of 280 tonnes.

Martin Keys, Operations Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, reflected on the challenges and success: "A project of this scale offers many challenges, but working together as one team with BAE Systems, our supply chain partners and internal teams, we have built a significant structure that will be part of the next chapter in Glasgow's shipbuilding legacy."

Named in honour of Janet Harvey, a World War II shipyard electrician, the hall spans 170 metres in length and 80 metres in width, making it a prominent new feature on the Glasgow skyline. The opening ceremony culminated with Janet's nieces joining the Lord Provost to cut the ribbon across the towering 33-metre-long by 54-metre-wide hall door – a symbolic gesture marking the official opening and ushering in a new era for Scottish shipbuilding.

Simon Lister, Managing Director of BAE Systems' Naval Ships business, emphasised the hall's importance: "The Janet Harvey Hall marks a major step forward for shipbuilding in Glasgow and will help enable efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades to come. It's a symbol of pride not just for our skilled workforce who bring these ships to life, but for the entire city."

This project stands as another testament to McLaughlin & Harvey's expertise in the defence sector, showcasing its capability to deliver complex infrastructure crucial for supporting the UK armed forces and their supply chain.