A Moira building firm is bucking the trend on the continued slow-down in the construction industry having been awarded a £12 million contract to construct part of the BBC's new Manchester base.

McMullen Architectural Systems will undertake the curtain-walling work at the corporation's new site, which will incorporate a TV and radio centre, as well a 19-floor office building and 16-floor hotel.

Agreed works includes curtain-walling facades from ground to third floors.

Rainscreen cladding and window inserts to the tower areas of the building and ceramic granite rainscreen tiling also form part of the contract.

Work is expected to begin on site in January, when the £12.4m project will be kick-started.

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McMullen, an internationally recognised specialist, has doubled turnover in the last two years, working on projects across the UK, Ireland and USA.

The group, who bought out rival Systems Aluminium Ltd earlier this year, has projected a similar success over the next two years, despite unfavourable global economic conditions.

Sales Director Colin Clatworthy said the firm hopes to turnover more than £50m in the UK and Ireland during this period.

"We've had a few projects where they have sent it in for tender and they've cancelled within a couple of days but the enquiry level has stayed reasonably good," said Mr Clatworthy.

"I think we're seeing things like academies and hotels, projects which are going to go ahead anyway, still happening and we're seeing a slowdown in the residential market.

"Even then we have the Obel in Belfast which is going ahead though there is caution and it is slowing down," he added.

Flying in the face of the current industry slow down, the Sales Director said his firm's order book was full for 2009, with projects that would net the business around £45m.

"We have work at this time next year but not sufficient to keep the factory up to full capacity, so we are looking for the autumn from the third quarter on in 2009 but certainly the first three quarters of next year are pretty full," said Mr Clatworthy.

(PR/JM)