Baker’s key to galleria
Published: 17 April, 2009
This year sees Bill Baker celebrating 21 years working at the galleria, Land Securities’ designer outlet, restaurant and leisure destination located above the A1(M) in Hatfield.
A Scottish QS, Bill was appointed project manager for the 320,000-sq ft development by the Carroll Group in 1988, at the very start of construction. His role was to oversee the complicated build programme, constructing the retail complex on the roof of a new motorway tunnel – the first time anything like it had been done in the UK.
Bill has worked at the galleria ever since, overseeing everything from tenant fit outs to technical management and a centre rebrand, working for a series of owners and taking a variety of job titles including centre manager, technical manager and project manager.
Recently Bill – now project manager again – has overseen the design and construction of the “Undercroft”, a new café and restaurant mall built in previously void space under the galleria’s Odeon multiplex cinema. In achieving this development for Land Securities, Bill and the construction team had to overcome a series of technical challenges including the removal and relocation of three 4 metre wide concrete staircases while keeping the area open for business.
The Undercroft incorporates many energy efficient features, including the Strato lighting (which also provides a stunning, ever-changing evening display of mood lighting), ambient under-floor heating, a heat recovery system and natural ventilation.
The Undercroft has proved hugely successful, adding Chiquito to Frankie & Bennys, McDonalds and Burger King in the galleria’s catering line up.
And the remaining A3 unit is under offer.
