Internal Refurbishment & Remodelling

YMD Boon was appointed by the University of Derby to design and deliver a series of summer refurbishment projects across its campus. This commission required the simultaneous delivery of five parallel schemes within a single vacation period, demanding careful coordination, efficient resource management, and clear leadership.

Drawing on our established relationship with the University, we mobilised a flexible and experienced team to meet the compressed programme. Our approach focused on achieving early clarity and stakeholder sign-off. Through structured workshops, 3D visualisations, and the coordinated agreement of room data sheets, finishes, and FF&E, we ensured layouts were approved swiftly, enabling procurement to proceed without delay. All projects were completed within the agreed timescales and with minimal disruption to campus operations.

The programme included the full refurbishment of five laboratories, involving complete strip-out, replacement of M&E services, and installation of specialist equipment. Services were carefully coordinated to reuse existing openings and minimise disruption to occupied areas below, while asbestos constraints were managed without impacting delivery.

Additional works included the redesign and refurbishment of two floors to create three new teaching spaces and a shared open-plan workspace for 120 staff, designed using pod-style clusters to balance collaboration with privacy. Fourteen further rooms were refurbished to form a dedicated “College Home” for Buxton & Leek College, alongside upgraded IT facilities and the remodelling of a busy main lobby requiring detailed fire and logistics planning.