Skanska UK ’08 Prison Contracts Top $200 Million

LOWDHAM, England — The United Kingdom division of international construction services firm Skanska announced a second $100 million design-build prison contract to follow the award of a similarly valued contract in January.

Under the $103 million contract, Skanska will expand two existing housing blocks at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire to add 260 cells to the nearly 700-bed prison, which is operated by private management firm Serco Ltd.

In January, Skanska was awarded a $105 million contract for the design and construction of a 260-cell extension at the 860-bed HMP Dovegate in Staffordshire, which is also operated by Serco. The Dovegate project, which includes the renovation of existing inmate services and recreation facilities, is scheduled for completion in 2010.

Also due for completion in 2010, the Lowdham project includes construction of a new two-story building that will provide 31,000 square feet of educational and vocational programming space. Existing services buildings and recreation facilities will also be extended and renovated to provide enhanced inmate services.

In addition to design and construction, Skanska will provide structural and civil design, and mechanical and electrical engineering services. London-based Capita Architecture is the lead architect for both projects.

“Our experience in developing custodial facilities spans over a decade and is a key part of our overall strategy of being a leading contractor in the construction of essential social and community infrastructure in the United Kingdom,” says Davis Tydeman, executive vice president of Skanska UK.

The company completed a 128-bed addition at Lowdham in 2007 and was responsible for the original design and construction of Lowdham and Dovegate prisons, which were completed in 1997 and 2001, respectively.