Western Office Expansion Heralds a Bright Future for Rapid-Build Specialist

Co Tyrone-based Western Building Systems has just completed the latest phase of a £4m expansion at its headquarters at the Mountjoy Road in Coalisland.

The 6,000 square foot, purpose-built panelised development incorporates new offices, staff areas, a showroom and production facilities, and almost doubles the innovative company's existing capacity at Mountjoy. The development was completed this month well ahead of its formal opening in the spring of next year.

Western specialises in a range of rapid-build solutions for both commercial and residential clients alike.

This final phase of the two-year expansion -- which has seen the family-owned company incorporate new spaces including production facilities for its Park Homes division, a newly acquired timber frame company and a windows and furniture centre -- centralises its full range of operations on to one site.

Western Building Systems, which is now a major employer in the area, was established in 1982 by Martin McCloskey.

The company's investment at Mountjoy and its realigned corporate development plan is inspired by Martin McCloskey's vision to offer a range of rapid-build solutions which don't compromise on quality. General Manager, Declan McCloskey, said that Western's ultimate aim is to become a 'one stop solution' to a variety of clients:

"Western is now in the enviable position where we can fulfil almost any building requirement for the trade or general public. Our emphasis on continual improvement and innovation has enabled us to build up a competitive advantage throughout the UK and Ireland."

In recent years, Western is probably best known for its track record in the health and education sectors in the Republic of Ireland. Last year it won a €25 million education contract to deliver seven new schools within a 20 week period. The company has also developed a strong reputation for its work on modern, high-dependency and intensive care units in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and a new, two-storey oncology department at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

According to Martin McCloskey the single site location will enable each of The Group's various divisions to work even closer together to provide truly integrated construction solutions.

He also believes Western has invested in its new facility at just the right time:

"The market has been extremely tough in the last year especially, but I get the real feeling that we've turned the corner. We pride ourselves in our versatility, and because we have invested recently in Mountjoy and diversified into new sectors, we can be much more responsive as fresh opportunities arise. Over the coming months we will be competing for a range of new projects throughout the UK and Ireland and I believe that our strong experience, coupled with the undoubted skill of our workforce, will enable us to compete effectively in what is unquestionably a tough business development environment."