Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has started work on three new alternative provision Free School academies in Lincolnshire. The Springwell Alternative Academies project is being delivered in partnership with Wellspring Academy Trust and will create more than 180 places for students aged 4-16. The three academies consist of two brand
One of the UK’s hallowed university sites benefited from Sika’s waterproof liquid-applied seal that helps preserve the roofing detail. The roof refurbishment at Central Building – part of Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam College campus – was one of the first projects to apply a pioneering approach. The approach included combining Sikalastic®-621,
Architecture and construction consultancy YMD Boon has announced that it has completed improvement works on more than 200 school projects in the Midlands area through the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). CIF, an annual bidding round to which academies and sixth-form colleges can apply for funding to keep school buildings in
Scotland’s largest flooring contractor, Veitchi Flooring, will supply 28,500 sq m of soft floor finishes to two large scale construction projects taking place in the north of Scotland. The Cambuslang-based firm, part of the Veitchi Group, say they are one of very few flooring contractors in the UK who could
Kier has celebrated the completion of the first phase of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) pioneering SA1 development by providing tours of the site to industry experts as well as teachers and lecturers. In partnership with the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE), the tours took place
Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based
A unique development in Stafford which saw a former 19th century hospital restored to become a collection of luxurious apartments, has now been completed. Previously named St George’s County Asylum, the grade II listed building on Cooperation Street first opened in 1818 and housed over 1,000 patients with dysentery and
Willmott Dixon will be delivering a £46.5 million new home for the School of Engineering within the University of Birmingham. Construction work for the development, which will accommodate both the School and the UKRRIN Rail Digital Systems Innovation Centre, will begin in August. The building will offer a variety of
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a
Construction work is underway at a £5.6 million primary school located on the old Filton Airfield in Patchway. The Charlton Wood Primary Academy is being built by Bristol-based Beard Construction and it will open its doors in September 2019. The scheme includes the addition of 14 classrooms – eight rooms
Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has started work on three new alternative provision Free School academies in Lincolnshire. The Springwell Alternative Academies project is being delivered in partnership with Wellspring Academy Trust and will create more than 180 places for students aged 4-16. The three academies consist of two brand new facilities; on New Beacon Road, Grantham and Macauley Drive, Lincoln. The third is located in Mablethorpe at the former Monks Dyke Tennyson secondary school where three existing small teaching blocks are being refurbished, remodelled and extended to create the new Academy. The academies will provide learning opportunities for children and young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools for a variety of reasons ranging from mental or physical health difficulties to behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Each academy will accommodate around 60 pupils and, in addition to specialised teaching spaces, will feature an assembly hall, SEN (Special Educational Needs) therapy room, sensory room, hygiene room, fitness suite, parents’ room and multiple use games area. Ian Dalby, framework manager at G F Tomlinson said: “G F Tomlinson has an outstanding track record in delivering educational projects for local communities under the ESFA Framework. “We are thrilled to have started on site and are looking forward to working with Wellspring Academy Trust over the coming months to deliver these new academies, giving students the chance to reach their full potential in an environment which suits their individual needs.” Josh Greaves, chief operating officer from Wellspring Academy Trust, said: “We are hugely excited that work is now underway across the three sites under G F Tomlinson’s curation, whose reputation speaks for itself. “These will be transformational facilities for the children of Lincolnshire, supporting the Wellspring’s aspiration to make a difference to the lives and life chances of all those within our care.” All three schools are expected to complete in summer 2019.
One of the UK’s hallowed university sites benefited from Sika’s waterproof liquid-applied seal that helps preserve the roofing detail. The roof refurbishment at Central Building – part of Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam College campus – was one of the first projects to apply a pioneering approach. The approach included combining Sikalastic®-621, a highly-durable and elastic liquid polyurethane system, designed for areas with complex detailing, with Sika Sarnafil’s single-ply waterproof membrane. Working closely with architect Cullinan Studio, contractors Gunite (Eastern) and Roofing Contractors Cambridge (RCC), and the college, Sika’s challenge was to create an appropriate waterproofing solution for the roof’s intricate design. Constructed in 1963 by renowned architect Denys Lasdun, the original Central Building features protruding ‘scalloped’ detailing, hence the contractor’s potentially challenging requirement: waterproof the flat roof – which itself had plenty of challenging details – and the scalloped areas, whilst maintaining the look and integrity of the roof and the building as a whole. Concrete repairs were carried out to the underside of the protruding scallops. Initially, this involved applying Sika® MonoTop®-610, a high performance, polymer-modified primer, in lieu of high-build concrete repair mortar: Sika® MonoTop®-615. The steel reinforcement was protected with Sika® FerroGard®-903+. This penetrates the concrete and forms a protective monomolecular layer on the surface of the reinforcing steel, to prevent its corrosion. The concrete was finished with Sikagard®-550W, a high-performance anti-carbonation coating, with crack-bridging capabilities, that protects the concrete, whilst meeting the aesthetic requirements of the structure. “Due to the unusual shape of the scallops, it wasn’t aesthetically practical to install sheet membrane on them, so many, many discussions took place to decide how best to tackle this. The Sikalastic® product ensured these unique details would be protected without altering their shape. It’s not unusual for a project to incorporate small amounts of Sikalastic, but this is one of the first projects where the Sarnafil membrane and Sikalastic®-621TC have been used over large areas together,” said Save Stewart, RCC Managing Director. It was thanks to the collaborative relationship between Sika Sarnafil’s technical experts, RCC’s highly experienced fitters and concrete repair contractor Gunite (Eastern), that the finished roof met the strict requirements of the architect and client.
Architecture and construction consultancy YMD Boon has announced that it has completed improvement works on more than 200 school projects in the Midlands area through the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). CIF, an annual bidding round to which academies and sixth-form colleges can apply for funding to keep school buildings in safe and good working order, funds projects that address issues such as water tightness, boiler failure, fire safety, safeguarding and mobile classroom replacement. In the latest bidding round (2018/19), more than 50% of all successful bids in both Derbyshire and Leicestershire were awarded to schools that had engaged YMD Boon to prepare and deliver their bids. The company has undertaken works on CIF projects ranging from window replacements and reroofing to extensions and major refurbishments over the course of the last five years. Notable projects this year include three new school halls, six new production kitchens, a half form entry expansion of an “outstanding school” and numerous boiler replacements, reroofing, window replacements, fire safety improvements works and safeguarding projects. Director at YMD Boon, Jonathan Warren, said: “Our continued success over the last few years through CIF bids demonstrates both YMD Boon’s knowledge and its commitment to the education sector. Delivering more than 200 projects through CIF is a fantastic milestone to celebrate and we are very proud of our team. “We have delivered both small scale projects ranging from £25k to large-scale refurbishment and expansion works in excess of a £1m. It’s great to see our work directly improve so many local schools and we very much look forward to delivering even more projects over the coming years through CIF.” YMD Boon, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, works on high-profile schemes throughout the Midlands, with specialist services including architecture, quantity surveying, building surveying, project management, employers’ agent, property management and maintenance, health and safety advisors and clerk of works.
Scotland’s largest flooring contractor, Veitchi Flooring, will supply 28,500 sq m of soft floor finishes to two large scale construction projects taking place in the north of Scotland. The Cambuslang-based firm, part of the Veitchi Group, say they are one of very few flooring contractors in the UK who could fund and resource such large scale contracts. They were brought on board by the Major Projects team of Robertson Construction who are the main contractor at both the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) and NHS Orkney Hospital. With a combined contract value in the order of £1.85 million Veitchi will provide 15,500 sq m and 13,000 sq m of flooring respectively to the fitting out which started on site in June. The types of soft flooring involved are wide and varied ranging from carpet tiles, vinyl and matting required around 30 fitters, many sourced from local labour pools, to complete the contracts. “Our ability to take on the big, the difficult is what we believe sets us apart from other companies,” says Veitchi Flooring’s managing director, Gordon Crawford. “These are large scale contracts which require a financial capability from the sub-contractor to resource the materials and labour in advance in order to properly service them.” At a contract value of £333 million the construction project is the largest ever undertaken by the Robertson Group. Spanning three buildings – the AECC, a 200-bed Hilton Hotel and 150-bed Aloft Hotel – it forms part of the 130 acre former Rowett Research Institute south of Aberdeen airport. The new NHS facility near Kirkwall in Orkney, meanwhile, will include a general hospital, primary care and community facilities, dental and clinical support services. “Last year we delivered a similar intergrated flooring solution at the new NHS Dumfries and Galloway hospital,” added Mr Crawford “Geography is really no barrier to us. We have flooring teams active all over Scotland often in remote locations and, indeed, the wider UK.”
Kier has celebrated the completion of the first phase of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) pioneering SA1 development by providing tours of the site to industry experts as well as teachers and lecturers. In partnership with the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE), the tours took place earlier this month to showcase the project and all that has been achieved so far. The SA1 Swansea Waterfront Development, consists of IQ, the new home for UWTSD’s Yr Athrofa: Institute of Education and the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, as well as the Construction Wales Innovation Centre. It also consists of Y Fforwm, the University’s library and learning resources centre. SA1 Swansea Waterfront represents an exciting new chapter for the University as it relocates from the Townhill and Mount Pleasant campuses into state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of Swansea’s waterfront. “This event provided a perfect opportunity to discuss our innovative learning approaches at IQ with industry peers. I would like to thank the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE) West Wales branch and their members for this opportunity. Several of the FBE members were integral in the new SA1 development, it was my pleasure to present to them how this new build will shape the learning and teaching environment within the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (FACE),” said Professor Mike Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering. IQ offers 10,000 sq m of flexible teaching space, computer labs, recreational space, and specialist engineering labs over four floors. Y Fforwm, consists of three floors, providing study space, learning commons, and book collections. Both buildings are fitted out with the latest Sony technology, and contemporary furniture installed by local companies Momentum and Bridgend Office Furniture. “These tours mark an important milestone for the SA1 development and it was brilliant to be able to showcase what we have achieved. Phase 1 has been completed on time and with a fantastic team who have shown care and passion throughout the two years that we have been on site,” said Howard Monsen, senior project manager for the site was on hand to answer questions. “The University, as a client, has been working very closely with Kier on the project, which is an incredibly large and complex scheme. Whilst much of their day to day attention, and certainly most of mine is focused on delivering on time and to a high standard, I have been overwhelmed by the commitment to a whole range of other initiatives from the diverse Kier team,” added Mike Bessell, UWTSD senior estates manager, who also provided a speech to all attendees.
Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based AB Glass will manufacture and install a range of aluminum systems for the project, including Kawneer AA100 curtain walling, AA540 windows, and AA190 and AA720 doors. Vitral UK rooflights will also be used for the project. The company is due to start work on the new development this month (August 2018). Alan Brayley, managing director of AB Glass, said: “The education sector is a significant area of business for AB Glass and we are pleased to be adding to our portfolio with the Croesyceiliog School development. This project also showcases our continuing relationship with Kier Construction, with AB Glass having secured a number of contracts with this leading construction company. “We are keen to get started on this project imminently and look forward to seeing the development taking shape.” AB Glass boasts a robust reputation for delivering success on developments within the education sector, particularly in Wales. In addition to being contracted for the Croesyceiliog School project, the company has also provided its services to Swansea University’s Bay Campus; Briton Ferry School, Neath Port Talbot; Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, Neath Port Talbot; Ysgol Bae Baglan, Neath Port Talbot; and the new University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) campus being developed in Swansea Waterfront.
A unique development in Stafford which saw a former 19th century hospital restored to become a collection of luxurious apartments, has now been completed. Previously named St George’s County Asylum, the grade II listed building on Cooperation Street first opened in 1818 and housed over 1,000 patients with dysentery and syphilis, before it closed in 1995. When work began to transform the structure, floors and walls were crumbling and some parts of the building had to be demolished, following 20 years of neglect. However, today the building is unrecognisable. What was once a decaying and uninhabitable building, is now a collection of beautiful one, two and three-bedroom apartments and has been renamed St George’s Mansions. Behind the incredible transformation is housebuilder, Shropshire Homes who has been working on the development since 2015. The team was keen to preserve the history of the hospital and maintain the Georgian architecture. In order to achieve this, Shropshire Homes worked closely together with leading roof tile manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles, who has extensive experience in re-roofing and restoration projects. The manufacturer supplied 20,000 of its Lothian tiles in Slate Grey. The cost-effective tiles were able to replicate the look of other natural slate tiles on the building, whilst providing the sustainable benefits of concrete. The Lothian tiles form part of Russell Roof Tiles’ Natural Range – an expanding selection of thinner leading edge interlocking concrete tiles. When laid, the tile gives the appearance of a small format tile with the commercial benefit of a larger format tile. “This is the first project that we worked with Shropshire Homes on and we are proud to have been part of such a fantastic transformation. With significant experience in re-roofing, the Russell Roof Tiles team is equipped to provide suitable roofing solutions which not only meet the current building requirements but which also provides sustainable benefits for many years to come,” said Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles. Managing Director for Shropshire Homes, Howard Thorne added: “These magnificent old buildings deserve some TLC invested back into them. The original architecture is captivating and we enjoy the challenge and are motivated by the outcomes we can achieve – characterful, luxurious homes with attractive period features. “We work with the best of the original features and combine innovation and vision with craftsmanship to transform the old and unloved into something new and desirable. “It’s been a privilege to deliver this project and give Stafford a truly wonderful building that will stand with dignity for many years to come.” Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent roof tile manufacturer providing products for leading UK house builders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects, where sustainability and eco-credentials are of the utmost priority.
Willmott Dixon will be delivering a £46.5 million new home for the School of Engineering within the University of Birmingham. Construction work for the development, which will accommodate both the School and the UKRRIN Rail Digital Systems Innovation Centre, will begin in August. The building will offer a variety of contemporary and flexible design and research spaces, which were designed by Birmingham-based Associated Architects and will act as an incubator for innovation and strengthens teaching and research partnerships. Moreover, office, meeting and lab spaces will be arranged around a generous atrium containing flexible learning environments that will also enable greater collaboration between staff and students. “This new building represents a celebration of engineering and will be a centrepiece of our new engineering hub. The ongoing collaborative relationship that we have with Willmott Dixon, along with the quality of delivery of their completed projects, gives us significant confidence that they will deliver this landmark building,” said Daniel Holmes, University of Birmingham. “The School of Engineering has been designed, and will be delivered, with collaboration between the University and industry at its heart, enabling research and teaching excellence to be celebrated and showcased,” he continued. Featuring exposed structural elements such as supports, pipework and services, the building’s interior will a practical display of its own engineering. On the outside, the facility will feature a half-brick, half-clad facade to provide a strong visual impact, with visual cues taken form railway lines and trackside signalling that connects it to its core specialism. “The new School of Engineering provides a clear visual statement for the University. It will be driving interest in the STEM subjects, something that we will be supporting ourselves through the creation of opportunities for work placements,” said Nick Gibb, Deputy Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the Midlands. Earlier this year, Willmott Dixon was chosen to to deliver the University’s Teaching and Learning Building, scheduled for completion in 2020. Together with this latest contract, the company is delivering over £90 million worth of work for the University.
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a public space for students and staff, offering the opportunity to hold a wide variety of events. Charcon was appointed for the job to provide a robust solution which would add visual appeal to the campus. Over 1,500m2 of Andover Textured Block Paving in Mid Grey, Silver Grey, Pink Granite and Heather Porphyry was specified for the main central square, having been carefully selected to complement the architectural styling of the campus. A combination of sliver grey concrete aggregate paving was selected for the square, with deeper colours also chosen to add depth. Perfectly suited to high volume pedestrian areas, the Andover Textured Block Paving offers exceptional durability whilst incorporating uniquely formulated Cornish aggregates to provide both enhanced performance and superior aesthetics. The upgraded square, which was designed to create an open space with clear access routes to the surrounding campus buildings, is now being used as a shared area for socialising, relaxing and studying. Since completion, the space has hosted Christmas markets, career festivals and Freshers’ Week activities. Mark Bodman, Director at Barry Chinn Associates, said: “We specifically chose Charcon as opposed to other key manufacturers of hard landscaping as we felt the quality of product successfully met our precise brief. The Andover Textured Block Paving lent itself extremely well to the project as it seamlessly accompanied the surrounding campus aesthetic.” Clinton Young, National Specification Manager at Charcon, said: “This project demonstrated our capabilities perfectly and we’re delighted that we have been able to deliver a full solution to the University of Leicester and we hope that the transformed space can be used to its full potential.” For further information, visit www.charcon.com. For technical support, please call 01335 372 222 or email landscaping@aggregate.com.
Construction work is underway at a £5.6 million primary school located on the old Filton Airfield in Patchway. The Charlton Wood Primary Academy is being built by Bristol-based Beard Construction and it will open its doors in September 2019. The scheme includes the addition of 14 classrooms – eight rooms for juniors, four for infants and two for reception – and it will provide places for 60 students in reception and year one. Each year, 60 new places will be created, aiming for a total of 420 pupils by 2025. The academy, which was designed by South Gloucestershire Council and BBA Architects, will include four breakout spaces, a library, kitchen, offices, staffroom and a large hall with a stage. There would also be play facilities outside, such as an outdoor timber classroom with a grass mound amphitheatre and a tepee village outdoor learning area, a multi-use court for netball and tennis and a grass sports pitch. “There are some really interesting outside features to this scheme which will be fun for our team to build, and even more fun for future students to use,” said Sean Franks, Beard Construction contracts manager. The primary school is part of Charlton Hayes – a brand-new 2,200- home extension to Patchway. The mixed-use development is named after the village of Charlton, which was demolished in the 1940s to make way for a runway extension at Filton. “Over the last year we have been working really closely with residents to ensure that the school is at the heart of the community. We are really excited to be opening next year and look forward to welcoming our first cohort,” said Headteacher Neil Lankester. The school is being run by Endeavour Academy Trust and South Gloucestershire Council awarded the building contract to Beard after a tender process.