Kier opens new headquarters

Tempsford Hall was officially opened by Alistair Burt, MP for North-East Bedfordshire, and Kier’s outgoing chief executive Paul Sheffield, who is leaving the business after 31 years. They were joined at the event by special guest Mrs Bente Kier, wife of the late Olaf Kier, who founded Kier back in 1928, and her two granddaughters.

Following the unveiling of a special commemorative plaque, Mr Burt and Mrs Kier were treated to a demonstration of BIM (Building Information Modelling), an innovative digital construction technology that Kier successfully used in the remodelling of Tempsford Hall – as well as in many of its hundreds of ongoing projects throughout the UK - and given a tour of the environmentally friendly new headquarters building.

Visitors were also given an overview of the building’s new green credentials, as Kier is actively seeking ways to radically reduce its own carbon footprint and develop a low carbon strategy for the building.

Some of the energy efficient features of the redevelopment include solar PC arrays, a solar thermal system that offsets 50 per cent of hot water demand and improved thermal performance of windows, doors, walls and roof insulation.

Kier expects its total energy saving for Tempsford Hall to be in the region of 350,000kWh in the first full year of operation - the equivalent of nearly 110 tonnes of C02.

Alistair Burt MP praised Kier’s commitment to creating an inviting environment for employees, commenting: “I’ve been to Tempsford Hall a number of times and the redevelopment has completely transformed the environment here – the way the new and modern has been blended with the traditional is really quite impressive.

“The environment that people work in makes a huge difference, and the fact that Kier has chosen to invest in a fantastic new building like this demonstrates how important the employees and their well-being are to the company – it shows people that they are valued and that they matter.”