This August, a new dining area and storeroom has been created by VolkerFitzpatrick, in association with CRASH charity, at Caritas Anchor House, the London based homelessness charity, providing accommodation and life skills support.

In Canning Town, London, a relaxing and inviting dining area has been created. The new dining area will provide ample room for up to thirty people to dine together. 

Bringing light into the space, two new large windows have been installed, while new doors have been added to improve the walkways during social events. Allowing guests to easily move between spaces, the dining room’s position has been ergonomically planned to provide easy access to adjacent spaces, such as the kitchen and laundry room.

The full works have included the demolition of the previous dining area and storeroom, including removal of stud walls, flooring and ceilings. The original proposed design was adapted during the works to maintain the structural integrity of the room. Rather than knocking down a couple of vital walls, an attractive laminated plywood finish was used to clad the walls, integrating them into the overall space.

Covid-19 guidelines have been followed by VolkerFitzpatrick employees throughout, with only one trade working on site at a time to minimise numbers and ensure social distancing. Access has been well thought out, with construction foot traffic driven via the rear of the building, to maintain distancing from the building’s residents.

John O’Grady, commercial director for VolkerFitzpatrick and CRASH Trustee, said: “Our team love working on projects with the CRASH charity – it’s fantastic to know our work will make a difference to people every day, for years to come. We hope this modern and attractive dining space will be welcoming to residents and help to improve their wellbeing.”          

Francesca Roberts, chief executive at CRASH charity said: “This is a fantastic project that shows exactly what can be achieved when the industry comes together through CRASH. The new dining room, combined with the lounge refurbishment from 2019, means the residents of Caritas Anchor House now have a wonderful ground floor space to enjoy together. Thank you to VolkerFitzpatrick for leading this project and for your continued support of CRASH. Together we can create places that care for people with hope and dignity.”

VolkerFitzpatrick has been a Patron company of CRASH charity for five years, helping a number of homelessness charities and hospices with their vital construction projects.