The Challenge:
Founded in 1919 the school site comprised of some unfit for purpose run down teaching blocks to the rear of the site. Other blocks were in need of refurbishment but were of mainly sound construction including the main block A which had a locally listed façade.
Programme and logistics were tight with key challenges such as; Significant issues with the condition of the main, listed building, in particularly the M&E. A constrained budget with significant temporary accommodation allowance. Long and complex phasing strategies, with multiple and costly decant requirements.
Developing design synergy between the old refurbishment blocks and the new build was crucial to avoid the old refurbishment block and the new build block looking like separate projects.
The biggest challenge was that the school had to remain live throughout the works.
The Solution:
Through the development of the phasing strategy, we avoided multiple decanting and the relocation of specialist spaces into temporary accommodation. This created budget savings of £20k, as well as reducing disruption. Additional budget was used to fund improvements to the existing building, e.g. fire life safety systems, outside the original refurbishment scope.
Refurbishment of main block was completed in small manageable sections during holidays, evenings and at weekends. This allowed the last project phase to be omitted and ensured the project completed 6 months early.
The façade of the existing building received new windows to match the new build and along the locally listed elevation all existing timber sliding sash windows were double-glazed.
The Impact:
The project was handed over 6 months early due to re-phasing the refurbishment zones. The re-phasing allowed the school to not lose one day of teaching or any of their curriculum.
The team accesses the M&E critical zones in the refurbishment areas during evenings and weekends. Each time the programme of works had to be completely detailed and communicated to all to ensure that either the next morning or the start of the following week the areas were available to teach children.
Lean programming and Collaborative planning to ensure completion of an entire block was achievable during the 6 week summer holiday.
" I wanted to say a big thank you, to you and all your team for all the hard work you have put in at Harris Girl’s Academy. The new build and refurbishment phases handed over to date look fantastic and the students are really enjoying their new surroundings... "Jamie Wallis Estates Manager Harris Academy
View more projects
Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond.
Berkeley Green & UTC South Gloucestershire & Stroud College (SGS)
Rising from the ashes of a decommissioned former nuclear site, SGS Berkeley Green, a converted 1940’s engineering hall, and new University Technical College (UTC) are the first educational buildings to be completed on a new ground-breaking GREEN campus, within Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park.
The Fulmar
The Fulmar is part of the Greenwich Peninsula Regeneration Scheme, consisting of three residential blocks, comprising 139 flats, surrounding a central landscaped podium courtyard. The blocks range in height from four to 10 storeys, housing 60 apartments for outright sale, 19 for intermediate (shared ownership) and 60 for rent properties.
Bolanachi Building cladding and fire stopping works
A cladding project delivered using an innovative Gridline System and underpinned by strong resident engagement.
Greenwood Centre
Redevelopment of 25 & 37 Greenwood Place to provide a new 3,600m2 resource and community services centre run by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities. As part of Camden Council’s Community Investment Programme (CIP) it forms a hub for all services that was previously spread across the borough.
South Bank Place multi-utility design project
A short-term central London consultancy project turned into a ground-breaking multi-utility project, moving eight utilities to prepare for a new 800-apartment development, setting the standard in how these projects should be delivered in the capital.
Morley House
The redevelopment of a Grade II listed block on London's Regent Street providing 1,021m² of high-quality retail space on ground and basement level, and 44 new homes for market rent. Achieving the equal highest Considerate Constructors Scheme score ever recorded in London.
St Julie’s Catholic High School
Building a new school for 1,100 students within the grounds of the original. Abiding by strict environmental regulations and generating a wealth of social value within the local community.
Crossrail
Constructing two railway tunnels that run for 6.4km between the Royal Oak portal and the new Farringdon Crossrail station in Central London. Huge scale building of station tunnel caverns at Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon for the new Elizabeth line.
Tapestry, King’s Cross
Tapestry provides an outstanding collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments, townhouses and penthouses. Set over 10-15 storeys, the 33,000 sq m development integrates extensive public realm and leisure facilities for the residents of the 129 apartments.
Astrea Academy Sheffield - Secondary School
Construction of a secondary school to create much-needed school places in north east Sheffield
Cheltenham Ladies College, Fitness Centre
The addition of high-class sport and leisure facilities for one of the UK’s most distinguished private schools has created flexible, multi-purpose spaces wrapped around the existing centre. Alongside a new sports hall, activity studios, squash courts and a gym, are additional changing rooms, a MUGA and new car park.
Astrea Academy Sheffield - Primary School
Restoring a listed local landmark to its former glory to create a brand-new school for North East Sheffield.
Stephen Perse Foundation
The design and construction of a new teaching block and first-class sports facilities.
5 Pancras Square
One of the most sustainable mixed-use building in the country and winner of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building award.
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Malton
Constructing a new annexe as well as a reconfiguration of the existing school in order to ease pressures on pupil oversubscription.
North Middlesex University Hospital
Our North Middlesex University Hospital (NMUH) project was a £53.6 million re-development comprising of 5 separate projects including units for Strokes, HIV, Women’s & Children’s Services, retained estates, infrastructure and external works. We treated each unit as an individual project with its own project team.
Delivering high quality and value for money fire safety works
Deliver a full range of fire safety works annually, including compartmentalisation, warning systems and fire doors across a range of property types with a wide geographical spread.
Parkside Estate: planned maintenance
Delivering a major programme of internal and external planned works for Clarion Housing across 17 high-rise blocks in East London. The programme included kitchen and bathroom updates, mechanical and electrical renewals, roof, brickwork and concrete repairs, groundworks, fire safety and redecorations.
Kier and TfL prove full closures are the future
Kier’s emergency road closure on the A2 proves full closures are the way forward for 2019’s network management programme.
A13 Road Widening Project
The A13 Road Widening Project is being delivered by Kier on behalf of Thurrock Council. The works include adding an additional lane in both directions between Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope and replacing four bridges. It will support economic growth, reduce congestion and enhance safety.
Dixons Sixth Form
Refurbishment and fit-out of a six-storey 19th-century mill building and coach house with a new build sports hall in Bradford for Dixons Academies Trust, maintaining the building’s heritage and ensuring it is suitable for teaching.
Chemistry of Health, University of Cambridge
Providing space for the study of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Aspect Court Refurbishment
£1m refurbishment of levels five and six of Sheffield Hallam University’s Aspect Court building to create space for degree apprenticeship students and an innovation hub
The Springfield Sixth Form Centre, Dewsbury Learning Quarter
Construction of the Springfield Sixth Form Centre, beginning the development of the Dewsbury Learning Quarter for Kirklees College
The David Attenborough Building
Updating an icon, providing pride of place for Charles Darwin’s finds, creating a prominent spot for a fully-fledged Finback whale, and being test abseiled by Sir David Attenborough.
Planned Works Framework
We deliver works to a broad variety of property archetypes, including leasehold properties, purpose-built and conversion flats, terraced, detached and semi-detached houses, estates-based properties, high and low rise blocks, sheltered housing and listed buildings.
The Aperture
The Aperture is the first phase of residential buildings on the Greenwich Peninsula. This five storey building comprises of a restaurant and deli on the ground floor, day nursery on the first floor, estate management and a community centre on the second/third floors with a gym on the remaining floors.
Stowlawn Primary School
Procured through the Scape National Minor Works Framework, this scheme involved the construction of a new primary school provision at the existing Stowlawn Primary School in Bilston, Wolverhampton. Unique to this project was the building’s existing Passivhaus principals and bespoke brickwork façade.
Spring Vale Primary School
Procured through the Scape National Minor Works Framework, this extension and remodelling project has increased the School’s capacity whilst improving their Ofsted rating from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’.
University of Essex STEM Centre
Creating a state of the art teaching centre for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Waterside Student Residences
A joint venture with Kier Major Projects for the University of Northampton. The project marked the first time Kier had committed to a large-scale Light Gauge Steel (LGS) frame project and is the largest LGS project to date in the UK.
Sensor City
Creating a ‘Knowledge Quarter’ for Liverpool, a collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, delivering a highly adaptable research environment and incubator space for start-ups and SMEs who are developing digital sensor technologies and applications.
Watford Riverwell
Delivering the £450m Watford Riverwell as a 15-20 year joint venture with Watford Borough Council, which involves regenerating 70 acres of land in West Watford to create residential, office, retail, leisure, industrial and hotel space.
Sainsbury Wellcome Centre
A unique, world-class, state of the art neuroscience research institute at University College London.
Slade Green Regeneration
The simultaneous extension and refurbishment of two neighbouring primary schools.
Yr Egin Media and Office Development
Bringing an iconic and sustainable development to the Carmarthen campus of the University of Wales, providing 40,000 sq. ft. of accommodation for for Welsh Media company S4C and the University's new media faculty and offices, and achieving a BREEAM Excellent certificate for sustainability.
Falmouth School Sports Pavilion
The design and construction of a sports pavilion, including FA compliant changing facilities, gym, office space and flexible recreation areas. In addition a first floor balcony was incorporated into the design which overlooks the sports pitches.
Westminster Bridge South Scheme
Easing congestion at this iconic London tourist location by integrating and coordinating pedestrian, cycling and traffic movements; using detailed planning techniques and innovative use of materials to minimise closure locations and durations; and responding quickly to changing security requirements after a terrorist attack just before the work was to begin.
58 Victoria Embankment
Located on the River Thames Embankment, this project involved the demolition of the existing building behind a retained façade and the construction of a new steel framed Cat A office with a concrete basement. Inside the building, being the main feature is the central atrium and 3 scenic glass lifts.
Cathedral School
Creating a two-form entry primary school within a Grade 1 listed building.
Harris Girls' Academy Bromley
The demolition, refurbishment and three-story new build of a local all-girls school located in South London.
Oakwood High School
New build secondary school developed under the Education Skills and Funding Agency's (ESFA) Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), providing modern accommodation with increased pupil capacity and facilities for classrooms, in addition to a Learning Resource Centre which integrates with pupil breakout areas.
National Transport Design Centre
The UK – and Coventry as a city - is well-established as a leader in automotive, aerospace, rail and marine design. Coventry University’s National Transport Design Centre (NTDC) aims to boost design innovation in the transport sector and bridge the current shortfall in creative skills.
Kingston’s Portsmouth Road
Transforming a London Borough of Kingston Road into a model for healthy streets. Creating cycle tracks and cycle parking, whilst communicating with local residents and businesses.
Howick Place
Situated close to Westminster Cathedral, Howick Place is an architecturally stunning building designed by Rolfe Judd Architecture. The building takes inspiration from the surrounding conservation area, whilst creating an environment to meet all 21st century needs.
Gatwick Airport Car Park 6
Designing and structurally refurbishing one of Gatwick Airport's largest multi storey car parks, expanding parking and storage areas, and working with many stakeholders to ensure that all safety, quality and commercial aspects were delivered in accordance with the airport’s stringent standards.
Fixed Telecom Network
The biggest telecoms project ever on Britain's railways.
Don Valley Academy
New build secondary school developed under the ESFA’s Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), providing modern accommodation with increased pupil capacity for 1,200 pupils and 300 post-16 students.
Chalcots Estate, call to action fire risk work
Assisting with the evacuation of 650 families from the estate after receiving a call from Camden Council at 5.30pm on Friday 23 June 2017, undertaking emergency fire remedial works, working overnight to fit fire door closers and carrying out an additional programme of fire upgrade works.
Caol Joint Primary School Campus
Designing and constructing of a new joint campus school for The Highland Council to incorporate two neighbouring primary schools, Caol Primary School and St Columba's RC Primary School, together with a community facility.
Bank Station Capacity Upgrade
Delivering a 100% BIM3 compliant utilities design at one of London’s busiest interchanges, Bank Station. Serving 73 million passengers annually, situated between London Bridge and the Bank of England.
Huntington Community Primary School
Blending traditional and innovative solutions to create a new-build, two-storey, 420-place primary school and 26-place nursery in Chester.
The Grove School
Undertaking a major refurbishment of a former Council building, originally a late Edwardian school, into a new school in Haringey, for 104 students aged 5–19 who have a primary diagnosis of autism.
Tiger Way
Kier Design and Business Services working in partnership with the London Borough of Hackney to deliver mixed-use developments and education schemes to create revenue for further local investment.
Aureus Secondary School
Delivering a new secondary school on the Great Western Park Development in Didcot, ensuring it was completed in time for the start of the new school year, creating extensive outdoor sports facilities as well as a building for 1,200 students and working alongside contractors delivering housing projects.
Sheffield Hallam University Robert Winston Annexe
£1.4m installation of a modular, two-storey extension onto Sheffield Hallam University’s Robert Winston Building, located on SHU’s Collegiate Campus.
33 Foley Street
Delivering a central London office space where people feel inspired and want to work and collaborate, bringing together a number of Kier businesses to work jointly on the project, adding an extra floor to the building and extending two other floors to create a stunning modern space.
The Chase SEN
Converting and regenerating a disused engineering building at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to create striking new modern facilities for disabled students.
Wedge House
Building a striking new build boutique hotel with works comprising the design, construction and fit out of 192 hotel rooms, 4,700m2 Cat A office space and full fit out of three floors of bars and restaurants.
Alperton Community School
The build of a new school and demolition works of the old premises, increasing capacity from 750 to 1700 pupils.
One Station Square
Working with Newlon Housing Trust, the project involves the demolition of the existing structure and the design and construction of a new residential development of 128 dwellings comprising 117 shared ownership flats,11 private sale flats plus 1 commercial unit to shell and core finish.
Degree Apprenticeship Centre
Revolutionary in its design, the first Degree Apprenticeship Centre on the Warwick University Campus marks a new stage in the University’s teaching programme. The new three-storey 2,400m² innovative development centre provides a bridge from education to industry.
Bartholomew School
Enhancing the estate of an already ‘outstanding’ Ofsted school to provide up-to-date facilities, fit for 21st-century learning.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls
Building a brand new 8 form of entry school situated in Thamesmead in South East London. The new school holds 1,200 pupils and includes teaching spaces, science laboratories, ICT suites, a dance studio, art and music rooms plus a large four court sports hall and hard court play area.
The Institute for Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT)
New state-of-the-art research centre, the Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT) building, situated on the Swansea University Bay Campus provides future proof, highly specialised laboratories for fundamental and applied research and delivers a high impact, transformative research environment for industry and academia to collaborate in advanced engineering and materials.
Hawthorne Primary and Nursery School
A modern primary school in Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, for an expanding local community that involved pupils throughout the build delivered through the Scape Minor Works Framework by Kier and Arc Partnership
Swansea IQ and YFforwm Development (SA1)
Delivering £32m first phase of new Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter to provide a 21st-century state of the art education facility to attract students from all over the world to the University of Wales Trinity St David.
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Khoo Teck Puat iMRI Suite
Our Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) iMRI project involved the construction of a three-storey building, adjacent to their existing theatres in the centre of their site, for a new iMRI suite and rehabilitation gym. The new MRI scanner was integrated into the new operating theatre to create a seamless brain imaging process during surgeries.
Springhead Park Primary School
Springhead Park Primary School is a brand new modular two-form of entry with additional 26 nursery spaces in Ebbsfleet, Kent. The new schools holds 420 pupils ages from 3 – 11. The building includes teaching space, food tech facilities, science laboratories, multi-use agency space and hard court play area.
Northstowe Secondary College
Delivering a 600 place Secondary School with 12 form of entry core facilities, as well as a 110 place SEN School and Energy Centre for Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT) on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.
Alness Academy – virtual transition model
With Covid-19 restrictions preventing in person site visits, our virtual transition model supports pupils and teachers to familiarise themselves with their new building and access useful information to support their transition and adjustment to the new school environment.
Leaving a lasting legacy: Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School
Construction of a new £30m building for Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School, providing 1,200 school places and ensuring social value was delivered throughout the project.
Iffley Academy
New-build construction of a community Special Academy judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2019, for pupils up to the age of 18 with complex special educational needs and disabilities. The new academy replaces unfit for purpose old buildings, adding animal care, horticulture and construction facilities, a mock flat and pupil-run café.
Whitelands Academy, Kingsmere
A brand new 600 pupil secondary academy school for years 7-11, built to support Kingsmere, a new housing development in south-west Bicester. Constructed to BREEAM principles, the academy features 26-classrooms, SEN provision, a four-court sports hall built and fitted to Sport England standard, external social spaces and multi-use games areas.
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Design and construction of two replacement buildings as part of a 1,100 pupil school in Canterbury, Kent, providing 7,500m² of teaching space across a range of traditional classrooms and learning areas with specialist areas for art, science and technology. The second phase, currently underway, includes asbestos clearance, demolition of the existing school buildings, construction of a car park and MUGA area.
Hartsdown Academy
Hartsdown Academy is a secondary school with academy status located in Margate, Kent for circa 1000 students aged 11 to 18. The project was completed over two phases where phase one comprised of the demolition of two existing school buildings and the construction of a new three storey teaching block. Phase two involved the demolition of three existing school buildings and the installation of a new pre-fabricated modular building.
Spa School, Camberwell
Spa School Camberwell is a co-educational special school for students aged 5 to 16 with autism. Construction works included the structural alteration, internal remodelling and fit out of a three storey Victorian building with a three storey new build extension. It has the capacity for 120 students and 80 staff.
Cattle Market Road, Bristol
Saving carbon, fuel and costs through the use of Solar Hybrid Towers at Cattle Market Road site in Bristol
Ponteland School & Leisure Centre
Ponteland School & Leisure Centre features a 420-place primary school and a 1,600-place secondary school, a state-of-the-art leisure centre with swimming pools, aqua play, spa, gym, climbing walls, dance studios, soft play zone, a 3G sports pitch, bar, cafés, library and a new community fire station.