Construction is underway at the £64 million development to construct a major food and health research centre at Norwich Research Park. The five-storey building will combine research teams from the Institute of Food Research, the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

GBE Converge have been appointed by SES (Engineering Services) on behalf of main contractor Wates to design, supply, install and commission all life safety systems, security systems, passive data network and active network equipment. It is a significant contract win and proves the combined strength of the group that was formed earlier in the year by the merger of GBE Fire and Security and Converge.

The landmark Quadram Institute will create integrated clinical and research spaces to accommodate 400 scientists and clinicians and allow for 40,000 endoscopy procedures to be undertaken per annum and will comprise a variety of specialist laboratories, lecture theatres and offices.

GBE Converge will be working with partners Honeywell for fire detection, fire alarms and intruder detection equipment, Baldwin Boxall for all disabled alarms and HIK Vision for CCTV. Paxton will be supplying access control and video intercoms with Tyco providing the gas suppression. For the data networks, HP will be supplying the Active Data Network.

As Business Development Manager Andy Westgarth commented “This is a great win for GBE Converge and highlights the value our combined capabilities can offer our clients. We’re also very excited about being part of such an outstanding project.”