Simon Nicholls: Associate Electrical Engineer
Profession:
Building Services Engineer
Qualifications:
HNC Engineering
Professional Associations:
Incorporated Engineer (I.Eng)
Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET)
Simon joined RPA in September 2015 having worked as a building services consultant for the past twenty years and as a contractor project engineer for nine years prior to that. He began his career in Portsmouth as an apprentice electrician, becoming fully qualified in three and half years. Simon then progressed into the office to become an assistant project engineer, helping to start up a new office for that contracting company. In 1991 Simon was the site engineer for Epsom Race Course’s new Queen’s Stand before moving to Cambridge at the end of the project in 1992.
Simon has a wide range of experience covering education, healthcare, listed buildings, colleges, residential, commercial, industrial and laboratories. Simon’s role at RPA is providing design services to a number of Clients and assisting the Directors in managing the electrical engineers and further developing the younger engineers potential.
90 Hills Road
Simon was the lead engineer on this project to refurbish an existing office block in a prime location near Cambridge City Centre and station. The electrical services included a full LED lighting solution and intelligent lighting control system, also a natural vent control system.
Market Hostel, King’s College
The project started as the refurbishment of two joined buildings, a Victorian Grade II listed former hotel and a 1960’s purpose built student accommodation block, as well as two banks located in the ground floor retail areas. The existing building had several different levels and staircases two banks located in the ground floor retail areas. As the project progressed the banks relocated and these areas were fitted out for use by Cath Kidston and Hugo Boss. Other existing tenants also had refurbishments carried out under following phases.
The King’s College student accommodation above was completely gutted and remodelled to give a central access staircase and level access to all floors. The John Maynard Keynes living room, a Grade II listed oak panelled room was also refurbished as part of the Fellows accommodation. A door access control system was installed to all rooms, including a hotel style light switch, which also controlled the heating to the rooms.
Cambridge Arts Theatre, Foyer Remodelling
This scheme was the initial step in the Theatre’s plans to open up the front of house areas of the building and increase the profile of the Theatre on the street elevations. The Theatre continued to run productions during the works, apart from an 8 week ‘dark’ period through the summer. Existing services and areas having to remain usable by the staff and safe for public access, while behind the hoardings works to completely refurbish the areas continued. LED lighting was installed with a DALI control system, as well as modifications to the existing theatre Fire Alarm, Public Address, ventilation and heating systems.
