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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Springfield Sixth Form Centre, Dewsbury Learning Quarter
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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
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Waterside Student Residences
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Sensor City
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Yr Egin Media and Office Development
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Westminster Bridge South Scheme
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58 Victoria Embankment
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33 Foley Street
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Millstream Tower
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Springhead Park Primary School
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Iffley Academy
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Ponteland School & Leisure Centre
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Ebbsfleet Green Primary School
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Constructing a new primary school to address the shortage of pupil places in Reading, Berkshire.
Netherthird Primary School
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First Light Pavilion
Award winning £20.5m First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank delivered for the University of Manchester. The brand-new discovery centre, which has the largest reinforced concrete dome in Europe, creates a first-class attraction demonstrating Jodrell Bank’s world-leading place in the history of astronomy.
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80 Grosvenor Street
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10 Lewis Cubitt Square
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Northstowe Education Campus
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