Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa, Dundee

Due to a seasonal market, the occupancy of the hotel was anticipated to fluctuate

ISA Hotel Services recommended placing the hotel kitchen at the centre of the building where it could serve the function room, restaurant and bar. Avoiding the need for a satellite kitchen and additional staffing. Short travel distances between these three uses also reduces staffing requirements to service the F&B operation.

Due to the un-proven 4 star market in Dundee, the budget for the building was tight. ISA Hotel Services recommended designing the building to the limits of the current building regulations without triggering additional requirements to minimise construction costs;

•The length of the hotel was defined by the maximum permissible distance between escape stairs before triggering an additional stair

•The height of the building is set at the maximum permissible height before triggering more onerous fire escape and fire fighting provisions.

•The floor to floor height of the building was optimised to reduce the extent of costly external envelope.

•Prefabricated bathroom pods and external cladding panels were used to reduce the construction programme and improve quality of finish