Build Diary: March 2011

With six weeks left until construction finishes on the site of the new Guide Dogs National Breeding Centre, the on-site team was busily preparing for the big move.

Key elements of the project tackled during March included:

• Finishing the highways work so there is a new entrance that will lead to the National Breeding Centre, a ghost island to assist vehicles turning into the site and new road signs.
• Ordering the signage package in our new brand.
• The first deliveries of bio-mass fuel (for the eco-friendly bio-mass boiler) arriving.
• Putting the hydro-therapy unit into its new home this week. At Tollgate its home was a garage but in the new centre it has a purpose built room, just off the breeding stock reception.
• Putting some of the cryogenic storage units, which house Guide Dogs? semen stocks, into place.
• Giving staff and volunteers who use the current breeding centre familiarisation tours. This gives them a chance to get a feel for the new building and see the benefits of the new design to themselves and the dogs? the feedback has been very positive.