Sainsbury's, Hazel Grove, Stockport, UK
Paul Green, RG's project manager said "the complexity of the Mezzanine steelwork design precluded many less sophisticated suppliers being considered. Mezzanine is the only specialist we know who could have coped with the demands of the structural design and the added pressure of fast track fabrication and installation."

Mezzanine has been instrumental in helping RG Group fulfil its brief of providing Sainsbury's with a groundbreaking concept in supermarket shopping.

Mezzanine designed and installed an asymmetrically curved mezzanine at Sainsbury's new 5,316m² store at Hazel Grove, Stockport. The unusually shaped mezzanine was designed to be visually appealing to Sainsbury's customers.

Situated above the checkouts and forming the nucleus of the store's state-of-the-art design, the 246m² mezzanine houses a "Kidszone", featuring large plasma screens showing cartoons, a Lego table, fairground mirrors and games designed by the London Science Museum. Families are able to relax in the zone whilst personal shoppers or packing staff complete their tasks. The multi-use area beneath the mezzanine level, incorporates a cafeteria, an internet area and a Sainsbury's bank.

Access to the mezzanine level is via a spiral staircase and a passenger lift. Mezzanine also constructed a 17.5 metre long walkway at the 3.4 metre high mezzanine level as a protected route of escape from the mezzanine, in case of emergency.

One of the main requirements was to create a stable environment and structure, whilst providing the optimum amount of clear useable space below the mezzanine.

Mezzanine achieved this by incorporating relatively few support stanchions. To create that substantial free area below the mezzanine, large areas leading to the curved perimeter beams were cantilevered from the central core of the structure.

The site situation meant that piling was necessary and Mezzanine installed mini-piles at the required column positions. Mezzanine also constructed the lift pit and associated lift void steelwork - precise installation being critical to ensure the lift's smooth functioning.

RG Group, specialists in the management of retail construction projects, was charged with producing a feasibility study and costs for designing the store's innovative features, within a tight time-scale of just six weeks.