PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Construction of new build Community Barn at Corbenic Camphill, to enhance facilities of the residential care facility for Corbenic Camphill Community which supports over 40 adults with learning difficulties.

The construction of a new 230m2 timber framed building within the Corbenic Camphill community campus at Dunkeld to form a new teaching space, meeting facilities and social gatherings and events for residents, families and the Corbenic Charity.

The project was delivered whilst the community facilities remained fully operational for all residents and staff throughout the works. The existent vacant land was cleared and replaced with a new facility designed with a focus on environmental sustainability and ecofriendly building materials, utilising strawboard acoustic panelling, lambswool insulation and solar PV.

The new facility features a Main Hall for large scale events, two meeting rooms, with demountable/bi-fold partitions to allow flexibility and flexible space, WC facilities including two fully accessible toilets, large kitchen with cooking and food prep amenities, 2 storage rooms, entrance foyer and large external plant room. There are also sets of bifold doors on the external elevation to allow break out ‘external feel’ working areas within the building to enhance the user environment for the supported adults.

Key Challenges

Delivering the project within a live and fully functioning facility providing care for adults with learning difficulties and PVG support needs provided extra risk to the safety and wellbeing of all parties. Careful planning, liaison and regular coordination meetings with the Corbenic staff and information boards displayed throughout the campus was key to managing these risks successfully.

Limited and restricted access from the main road through narrow winding internal campus roads meant careful planning of cranes/vehicle deliveries and size of vehicles was adjusted to suit the site conditions.
Poor ground quality compounded by extremely harsh weather conditions resulted in extra depth foundations requirements and an additional 30m3 of concrete being poured into the foundations. Despite the associated delays and additional time taken, we manged to keep the project on programme.

Added Value

We collaborated with the design team upon our appointment to the project in an extensive value engineering exercise to assist in achieving the clients desired budget whilst not compromising the desired facility and eco friendly focus. This involved amongst others, changing to a timber kit detail and proposing various cost effective insulation product solutions.

Recognising the Corbenic Community supports adults with learning difficulties who are resident on site with a very keen interest in the change happening in their safe environment, we introduced the opportunity for the client to involve the residents in supported site tours and workshops where the residents could feel they were contributing to the project. This was very positively received.