The distinctive new Medway Police Station building houses equally impressive kitchens and a large canteen servery. Working directly for the project's developers, Norwest Holst, it demonstrates Vision's impressive work in the public sector.

Constructed in 2006 by developers Norwest Holst, the new Medway Police Station is a striking new building just off the Medway Road, in Rochester, Kent. With an impressive steel and glass quarter circle facade it houses the results of an amalgamation of three Police Stations into a new regional centre now occupied by up to 600 staff at any one time.

Vision Commercial Kitchens worked directly with main contractors Norwest Holst to build and project manage the installation of the kitchens and the large, complex canteen servery. Unusually, Vision didn't undertake the design work on this project as they only became involved when the original suppliers couldn't deliver the complex requirementsto budget.

The fourth floor location of the kitchens created many logistics issues during the fit out and demanded that much of the equipment and the servery itself be craned up in just one day. As these photographs show, the large, stylish servery was designed to an unusual shape incorporating many curves and finished with high-specification, polished granite worktops. The granite had to be brought in crates and installed with the units in position rather than the customary fit before delivery.

"Vision stepped into the breach when our initial suppliers couldn't deliver," explains Ian Dunning, the Norwest Holst project manager. "I appreciate that it's always difficult taking over someone else's designs, but Vision adopted them without issue, never complaining that 'we wouldn't have done it like that'. They overcame all the logistical issues around the kitchen's location and have provided an excellent end result on time and to budget. I look forward to working with them on future projects and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them."

If the old saying that 'an army marches on its stomach' is true, then the kitchens and canteen are essential to support the day to day operations of the Police officers and their administration staff. The kitchens are manned by eight staff and the ongoing management of the building is undertaken by a Norwest Holst subsidiary, Norwest Holst Facilities Management. Inevitably if there's any disruption then Tanya Sadler the Contracts Manager, will hear about it almost immediately and be expected to resolve it as quickly as possible. She, in turn, is reliant upon Vision as the kitchen suppliers for their ongoing maintenance and technical support.