Scope of works included the demolition and stripping-out of some existing areas, groundworks including excavation, foundations, drainage and changes to existing ground levels.

Adapting all existing wiring and service feeds to supply new appliances and fittings, the removal of some existing internal/external windows & doors, and the removal of existing facias in preparation for new adjoining flat roof. Works also included blockwork, steelwork, lintels, joinery, plastering, suspended ceilings, doors and windows, floor finishes, decorations, M&E alteration works, fire stopping, emergency lighting, fire alarm, fire doors, roofing and lightning protection.

The building was constructed with augured and cast concrete piles to a depth of 12m and a concrete ring beam foundation. The ground levels meant that a reinforced retaining wall had to be built down the middle of the building.

The site investigation report discovered ground gases and the foundations had to be protected with a full gas membrane. Several complicated details around lift pits, and retaining walls had to be agreed upon and constructed. The ground floors were a mixture of cast slabs and beam and block floors.

The main structure was a steel frame, metal deck/concrete floors and a metal deck/single-ply roof. The external walls consisted of SFS lightweight internal walls with a mixture of natural stone walling and natural stone cladding. The windows and doors were a mixture of curtain walling and window sections. Bermar completed all the internal finishes including the Teach walls, lift installation and the completion of two staircases.

The site was particularly tight and the actual building was surrounded on three sides by live operational buildings. One of these buildings was the sports hall that was used for examinations. Work had to be scheduled around the exams. The sequencing of the work had to be very carefully planned as access to the whole site was limited to one elevation.

In order to complete the work in the required time scale we started just 2 days after receiving instruction.  We worked overtime and weekends and found alternative products that could be ordered and installed in the time scales given.

Prior to starting work, we held a launch workshop with the school stakeholders, including the Design Team and Teachers, and collaboratively developed a solution to segregating dust, noise and vibration when working within the central core of the school.  To keep our works separate, we erected a full-height temporary partition complete with doors and dust seals.  We created our own site access using a previously unknown road which also enhanced segregation once pupils returned following the summer holidays.

Working collaboratively from the start, we maintained teaching and estate functionality during all construction activities.  This included helping the school to adapt its fire risk assessment and management procedures.

The construction was a steel frame, masonry cavity walls finished with a mixture of brick and render. The roof was a Bauder flat roof. Windows and doors were aluminium.

This project was particularly challenging in that the original contractor had gone into administration and stopped trading when they had installed the concrete beams on the first floor. The partially built building then stood for over 12 months whilst it was redesigned from a single-storey to a three-story building. Once on-site, we uncovered many defects that made the construction very difficult. The concrete roof/first floor had failed and had to be removed and recast. The steel frame was set out incorrectly both out of line and level. This had to be adjusted with additional steel so we could continue with the extra floors.

We eventually got the building back on track and completed the scheme ready for the school to occupy and use for the start of term.

The school was live throughout the scheme and all deliveries had to be carefully scheduled, done out of hours and/or banksmen employed to escort them across a shared car park.

The original site was built on an infilled railway cutting and the ground was both structurally poor and contaminated.

Heavy groundwork, including sorting and capping of the excavated material and concrete piles to a depth of 20m was required before laying reinforced concrete beams. The building was a steel portal frame clad in a mixture of Siberian Larch panels, powder coated aluminium panels and steel cladding. The roof was constructed using composite insulated Steel Panels. As you can see the building was a covered outdoor space and was not heated or insulated. The building housed 5 netball/tennis courts and enabled the school to play outdoor sports in all weathers.

The school was a live site throughout the scheme and safeguarding, liaison and segregation were extremely important and well-managed by the Team.

The scheme was completed using the JCT Standard Form of Contract and Bermar Building Acted as the Principal Contractor.

The building had its own reception/staff area, cloakrooms and toilets to serve the two classrooms.

The construction was traditional with masonry cavity walls and a mixture of brick and cladding to the externals. The roof was a timber-trussed structure with metal Britmet tiles.

The site was shared with a live Pupil Referral unit for children aged up to 17. This added to the complications of segregation.  Liaison and an amount of working out of hours was required.