PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The construction of a new build teaching accommodation at Belhaven Hill Primary School, an independent boarding and day school in Dunbar, East Lothian.

The project delivered a new build Makers Space Teaching Facility within the playing fields of the primary school. The new building comprised two new classrooms, toilet, tea-prep area, staff office, storage areas and plant room.
The modern teaching space was constructed using a timber kit frame, timber roof trusses, zinc roof cladding, Solar PV and Russwood external rain screen wall cladding. Full contractor designed M&E service installation (including integration into the existing school infrastructure) and external landscaping.

Key Challenges

Delivering the project within a live and fully functioning primary school throughout normal term time provided significant risk to the safety and wellbeing of all parties and inquisitive pupils interested in the exciting construction works. Careful planning, liaison and regular coordination meetings with the School staff/appointed project representative was key to managing these risks successfully. Carefully planned and maintained site security fencing with access controlled gates, information boards and warning signage displayed throughout the works area and co-ordinated material delivery outwith normal school hours ensured efficient segregation and the safety of all affected by the project and no disruption to the normal daily school activities.

Completing the design of the MEP services from stage 3 status during the live progress of the works against a tight contractual programme presented many co-ordination challenges and delivery of elements of the work out of sequence.

Integrating and co-ordinating the mechanical ventilation plant into the roof truss design whilst the design of both elements was being progressed under CDP packages during the live progress of the works was both time consuming and intensive and required a significant element of redesign and reworks, all putting significant pressure on the programme.

Added Value

Added value here was provided by EC working collaboratively with the Design Team on an extensive Value Engineering exercise to provide cost effective solutions to allow the project costs to be contained within the clients very tight budget.

This was implemented immediately upon appointment where EC proposed changing the originally designed Glulam beam structure to a timber framed kit. As well as saving significant cost, it also reduced installation time on site with the offsite prefabrication elements. The timber kit procurement, design and on-site erection was all carried out within the client’s desired completion timescale, despite the initial project commencement being delayed.

Although the project was a new build facility it was delivered in a live primary school. Our extensive experience of live working environments was essential in ensuring no disruption to the day to day running of the schools’ normal activities and maintained the safety and wellbeing of all school staff and pupils, eliminated the inherent dangers of construction work.