What Makes a Successful Industrial Refurbishment?

Super loaded question, right?!

If there was one simple answer, our project teams would probably have a much easier job.

The reality is, a successful industrial refurbishment is made up of a lot of moving parts. It’s the big, obvious transformations like new roofs, cladding and loading bays, but it’s also the things you’ll probably never notice in the finished photos: the planning, coordination, sequencing, problem-solving and dozens of decisions happening behind the scenes.

And, after delivering our fair share of industrial refurbishments over the years, we’ve definitely learned a thing or two about what makes a good one.

So, rather than give you the textbook answer, here’s what we think really matters.

First things first: know what you’re working with

Existing buildings have a habit of keeping you on your toes.

You can survey, investigate and plan (and you absolutely should), but refurbishment is very different to starting with a blank canvas. Once works get underway, there can always be something that needs a rethink.

That’s why understanding the existing building as thoroughly as possible from day one is so important. What condition is the roof in? What can be retained? What needs replacing? How are the existing M&E services performing? Does the current layout actually work for the building’s next use?

Getting under the skin of the building early gives everyone a much better starting point for what comes next.

It’s never just a warehouse

We spend a lot of time talking about industrial units in square feet, but ultimately, they’re spaces people need to work in.

Yes, the warehouse matters. But so do the offices, welfare areas, kitchens, meeting rooms, loading areas, service yards and everything in between.

Some of our industrial refurbishments have involved major structural alterations, new loading bays, dock levellers, roofs and cladding alongside complete CAT B office fit-outs and upgraded welfare facilities.

The best schemes look at how all of those spaces work together, rather than treating the warehouse and office as two completely separate projects.

Because there’s not much point having a brilliant warehouse if the office next door still feels like it belongs in 1997.

Don’t forget the bits you can’t see

We love a before-and-after as much as anyone.

New cladding? Lovely. Fresh office fit-out? Even better. A dramatic drone shot of a brand-new roof? Straight on LinkedIn(!!)

But some of the most important work on an industrial refurbishment isn't necessarily the most photogenic.

Mechanical and electrical upgrades can completely change how a building performs. Lighting, heating, ventilation, power and fire alarm systems all need to work for the way the building will actually be used.

They might not get the glory shots, but they're a pretty important part of handing over a building that's genuinely ready for its next occupier.

Energy performance needs to be part of the conversation

This is becoming a bigger consideration on pretty much every refurbishment project.

For existing industrial buildings, refurbishment presents a real opportunity to improve performance without starting again from scratch.

Upgraded building fabric, more efficient M&E systems, LED lighting and renewable technologies can all form part of that picture.

We’ve delivered schemes where refurbishment works have helped take buildings from an EPC D to an EPC A, alongside projects incorporating solar PV and EV charging infrastructure.

The important bit is looking at energy performance as part of the overall refurbishment strategy, rather than something tagged on at the end.

There are a LOT of moving parts

This is probably the big one.

On one project you might have roofing, cladding, steelwork, groundworks, drainage, loading bays, M&E, office fit-out and external works all happening within the same programme.

And naturally, they all need access, time and space to do their bit.

That’s where good project management really earns its keep.

Planning the sequence properly, keeping communication flowing and making sure everyone knows what’s happening next can be the difference between a project that feels controlled and one that…doesn't.

Our project teams spend a huge amount of time on the bits clients hopefully don't have to think about.

That's kind of the point.

Think about who gets the keys at the end

Whether you're refurbishing for a known occupier or getting a vacant unit ready to return to the market, the end user should be part of the thinking from the beginning.

Can HGVs move around the site properly? Is there enough loading capacity? Do the offices suit the way people work now? Are the welfare areas somewhere you'd actually be happy to spend your lunch break? How expensive is the building going to be to run?

A successful refurbishment isn't just one that looks great on handover day.

It needs to work on day 100, too.

So…what makes a successful industrial refurbishment?

Welllll..we did warn you it was a loaded question!

There isn't one magic ingredient.

It’s understanding the existing building. Knowing where to invest. Planning properly. Coordinating a lot of different trades and workstreams. Thinking about energy performance. Keeping the end user in mind. And being ready to solve the inevitable challenges that come with working with an existing building.

Do all of that well and refurbishment can give an industrial building an entirely new lease of life, often without the need to start again.

And for us, that's one of the best bits of what we do.

Thinking about an industrial refurbishment? Take a look through some of our recent industrial projects or get in touch with the Inco team to talk through what you've got in mind.