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Consultant Bucknall Austin has been appointed QS and employer鈥檚 agent on the 拢100m scheme to convert the former central London Home Office building into the new home for the Department of Constitutional Affairs that will house junior ministers.

The 拢500,000 sq ft building at 50 Queen Anne's Gate near St James鈥� Park is aiming for a BREEAM rating of excellent. The project involves installing bomb-proof glass, uncovering original stone work, replacing the roof plant room and building a large atrium in the building鈥檚 courtyard.

The scheme is in the final stages of demolition and fit-out has already begun on some of the floors.

Main contractor Skanska is operating under a design and build contract for developer Land Securities. Skanska鈥檚 project manager on the scheme is project director Andy Hankin. The architect appointed to design the building is Aukett Fitzroy Robinson.

Phil Breeden is Bucknall鈥檚 lead QS on the project, while Gordon Glen is the employer鈥檚 agent.

Breeden said the building was bidding for the high BREEAM rating by installing multi service chilled beams instead of standard fan cooling air conditioning units. The beams will contain a range of electrical elements, including lighting, the public address system and fire alarm system. Air is pushed through the beam over coils. They will be suspended on each floor from the ceilings, which have been raised.

Breeden added: 鈥淭he design uses less energy and meets industry requirements on floor to ceiling heights.鈥� He confirmed the project was on programme.

Sub-contractor Szerelmey is carrying out 拢1.5m of restoration works on Portland and Roman stone facades. The structural engineer is Clark Nichols Marcel and the M&E contractor is Cundall.

The scheme started on site in December 2005 and is due for completion in November 2007.