Education

LISTER COMMUNITY SCHOOL Occupied school site H&S interface Adjacent modular construction Multi-stakeholder engagement Info box: Client: London Borough of Newham Architect: Rivington Street Studios        M&E Consultant:  Conserv             Value: £1.5m   Lister Community School expansion is one of our latest projects with Newham, following successful completion of 18 education schemes over the last 10 years, with values ranging from £1m through to £21.5m (total £80m).  Collaborative relationships, proven efficiency, value for money and quality performance influenced our appointment through competitive two-stage design and build procurement to undertake these complex remodelling and extension works alongside a concurrent new build modular expansion. Multi-stakeholder engagement and close communication has been critical to minimise disruption and ensure H&S when working across multiple areas within the live school site. Our works on-site include: JFK Building – Internal remodelling of existing classrooms, with external hard and soft landscaping works Library – A new steel frame extension along with external hard and soft landscaping works to form the library garden.  Second floor – Conversion of an existing external garden area into an internal science class room, along with remodelling of the existing science class room Dance studio – converted into a lecture theatre, included the installation of 2 mezzanine floors at first floor level Café/Fitness studio – included the remodelling of the existing drama areas, and a steel frame extension to the front of the site that formed a new café area. Entrance areas – A new canopy installed during the summer break and existing voids in the first floor level infilled

ALFRISTON SCHOOL Live SEN Residential Site Specialist design Complex Logistics Info box:Client: Alfriston SchoolArchitect: Ellis Williams ArchitectsM&E Consultant: Max Fordham              Cost Constultant: Measur                  Value: £1.7m Alfriston School is a state-funded girls school with Academy status catering for secondary-age day and boarding pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 with a wide range of special educational needs. The school has day places for up to 120 pupils and provides residential care for 20 of those pupils. Most pupils have moderate learning difficulties, and a large majority have additional needs, such as speech, language and communication difficulties, sensory impairment, or physical difficulty.                                                                                                                                        Neilcott was employed to undertake the design and construction of a new performing arts building at Alfriston School, working with the novated architect Ellis Williams Architects. The building provides teaching and performance spaces in the disciplines of music, drama and dance as well as new landscaping, facilitating a new department on the school campus. The ScopeWorks involved construction of a new two-storey steel-framed performing arts block (c.401m2) to connect with the existing sports hall. The new facility provides additional teaching space, storage, changing facilities, toilets and circulation. An area occupied by a temporary classroom block and garages was cleared and storage containers relocated to make way for the new building. Performance / Teaching Hall –  The double height performance hall is light, spacious and designed to offer flexibility in its use. Alongside daytime or evening performances to an audience of up to approximately 230 people, the hall will serve as a primary teaching space in the disciplines of dance, music and drama on a day to day basis, as well as providing a much needed large space for gatherings, assemblies and school events.  Flexible lighting can be provided to suit each of the different uses accommodated within the space. To the rear of the hall, storage for chairs and demountable stage elements has been provided so that these can be stowed away as necessary. The ground floor area of the Performance Hall space can be used in isolation for small to medium sized performances or in combination with the first floor gallery to provide additional seating. Entrance Foyer & Lobby – The new primary entrance opens into a split level entrance foyer in a double height space which consolidates the various disparate entrances of the existing adjacent gym and offices within the envelope of the new building.  The foyer space provides a break out area for classes entering or exiting the building, or audience members waiting to enter the space before a performance. The position of changing rooms and WCs in close proximity mean that such activities can be contained to one area of the building during a performance, making it easier to manage. Teaching Space – Two dedicated classrooms provide teaching space for classes of 10-24 students with flexibility between formal and informal teaching arrangements according to the type of discipline: editing classes/ drama lessons/ ballet classes etc. 

FOREST GATE SECONDARY SCHOOL Occupied Site Steel Frame Complex Logistics Info box:Client: London Borough of NewhamArchitect: Rivington Street StudioQuantity Surveyor: London Borough of Newham                                                      Project Manager: London Borough of Newham                                            Value: £11m Winner – Education Estates ‘Refurbishment of the Year’ 2021 Shortlisted – RIBA London London Award 2022 The development of the Forest Gate School involved the construction of 2,815m2 new build construction (including new studio space) and 837m2 reconstruction/refurbishment of internal spaces. All the works were undertaken on a highly restricted school campus without any adverse impact upon teaching and learning. The 2FE school expansion design was developed in discussion with the school and representatives of the London Borough of Newham. The main elements of the brief and the design drivers can be summarised as: Expand the school from 7FE to 9FE (1050 students to 1350) and create an internal ‘heart’ space Provide high quality teaching accommodation for the expanded school to build on it’s academic success, including the refurbishment of existing classrooms into drama and dance facilities Improve internal circulation and accessibility within the existing building Provide additional and enhance existing student external amenity area Improve connectivity between the school sites On the ground floor the new double height dining hall space has natural light from a large courtyard roof light and windows onto Forest Street. This space forms a new ‘heart space’ for the school at the ground floor level. Dining capacity and experience was greatly improved with additional serving capacity provided from a new mobile food kiosk within the space. As well as dining, this hall is used for practice exams and has flexible furniture to enable this to happen on a daily basis. The other new teaching spaces at this level include a Food Tech classroom (well located near the school kitchen), and a new drama studio created within an existing windowless classroom. A detailed construction management plan was put together to deal with the logistics and management of the site to ensure that programme was maintained without disruption to the life of the school. The construction works within the school were delivered safely and on time without disruption to the operations of the school or the day to day life of the nearby residents.  “Neilcott have a solutions oriented, non-confrontational approach – working together to overcome challenges (no matter how they have arisen) and so ensuring client satisfaction. I cannot recommend Neilcott’s effort, professionalism and commitment highly enough.”                                                                                                                            Liam Keaveney – Head of Capital Commissioning

BARKING ABBEY SCHOOL Occupied Site Steel Frame Decant Phasing Info box:Client: London Borough of Barking and DagenhamArchitect: Rivington Street StudioQuantity Surveyor: Playle and PartnersProject Manager: BeFirstValue: £19.2m Developed from RIBA Stage 3 through a 2-stage design and build process, we managed this project to expand the school across three separate sites in Barking. New buildings provide; 2,450m2 of specialist teaching accommodation and a new sixth form centre at the Sandringham campus, 3,200m2 of specialist teaching accommodation and a new kitchen and dining hall at the Longbridge campus and 1,300m2 of sporting and community facilities on its sports area. Site 1 – Longbridge Road Campus This new steel framed teaching block has an attractive red brick façade and incorporates the following new facilities: General teaching, science labs, art and design/technology classrooms Dining hall and kitchen facilities Staff room, offices, toilets and support accommodation Site 2 – Longbridge Road Campus Sports Building A design review changed the location of the building to avoid large groups of students having to cross a busy road to access the new sports facilities. The new single-storey steel frame sports block was designed to be: Compliant to Sports England guidelines to maximise revenue generation/external use Sized to accommodate 2 new sports courts Site 3 – Sandringham Campus, New Classrooms and Sixth Form Centre New steel framed classroom block and sixth form centre connected to an existing building through circulation space to provide a seamless link at ground and first floors. Existing temporary accommodation on-site was removed following completion of the new building. New sixth form centre, comprising open plan study area, ICT suite, separate reception, offices Kitchen/servery 4 science labs Additional works were instructed during the contract including refurbishment of an existing 1920s hall and new car parking. “Neilcott spend time to understand our goals and end user requirements to help the whole team achieve these shared project objectives. They have a non-confrontational approach and work constructively to find solutions and ways to add value.”                  Dawn Hughes – Senior Project Sponsor

ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL Occupied Site Steel Frame SIPS Complex Logistics Phasing Info box:Client: Royal Grammar SchoolArchitect: IID Architects                    Quantity Surveyor: Ainsley’sValue: £5m Neilcott was appointed to undertake phase-3 of the nine-phase Royal Grammar School (RGS) masterplan. The new facilities in the heart of the listed school were co-ordinated around a live school environment and include conversion of old design & technology labs into state-of-the-art chemistry labs, followed by construction of a 725m2 fourth-floor extension over the existing three-storey ‘spine’ block between two central courtyards. Neilcott undertook the third (most recent) phase of development, including: a 725m2 spine extension to the main building at height; relocation of construction-affected teaching accommodation; infill of existing courtyard spaces; and relocation of the library into the “heart” of the school; for completion prior to the new academic year A key element of the project was the planned, phased decant and recant of working areas, swiftly completing moves as refurbishment works progressed through different areas. During construction of the spine to accommodate the piling works, temporary designated access routes were formed to both courtyards through the existing school building at ground floor level to facilitate the specialist piling rig required to reach the designed depths. These routes also facilitated access for site personnel, excavated materials off site and concrete for the foundations to minimise interface with the live school. We installed the structural steel roof structure and supporting columns, whilst leaving the pitched roof structure over the spine in-situ, until the it could be safely demolished in a weathertight environment. We managed phasing and programming of works, ceasing all construction during the 2-week public exam period, ensuring no disruption or distraction to pupils, additionally scheduling works (including steel frame/composite floor works) from 4pm-8pm on many evenings to maintain school operations without disruption. During pre-construction period we identified interface issues e.g. service routing and new to old connections and coordinated effective value engineering work to ensure effective cost control and maintain viability for this complex project. “There have been two big challenges on this project – the technical challenge of building it and keeping the school operating …Neilcott dealt extremely well with the health, safety and safeguarding implications of this, as well as minimising disruption for our teachers.”                                                                                                                                      Bob Ukiah – Chief Operating Officer

WEST HERTS COLLEGE Occupied Site Steel Frame LRC Science Laboratories Info box:Client: West Herts CollegeArchitect: IBI Taylor Young                Quantity Surveyor: Equals Consulting Project Manager: Equals Consulting       Value: £10m Neilcott were appointed by West Herts College to design and construct a new teaching facility at their Hemel Hempstead campus to provide facilities for 16 -18 year-old students. The new building comprises the following facilities; new main entrance, reception area and lobby, Learning Resource Centre, student services, refectory, general teaching classrooms, specialist IT suites, science lab and break out spaces. Construction methodology for the project included the use of vibro piles, pile caps, ground beams and a ground bearing slab providing structural support for the steel framed superstructure. Retaining walls were constructed to provide support at changes of level around the building to allow the building to coordinate with the existing external levels and sloping site. Architectural features in key areas of the building, such as the north light over the 16-18 building were incorporated to carry natural light to ground level with feature colours introduced by the college to enhance the environment. Neilcott developed a master construction programme for construction and subsequent demolition and external works. Due to the tight timeframe, an enabling scope was agreed to facilitate works to de-risk the unknown ground conditions and contamination risk following extensive demolition works completed prior to our appointment. This exercise identified an element of contamination along with the presence of existing foundations, the contamination was removed and the new proposed foundations were re-designed to avoid the existing foundations. “Neilcott have been an exceptional contractor to work with and the College is extremely pleased with the high quality building that has been delivered, which is exactly as was determined in the design brief.”                                                                                            Gillian O’Connell, Director of Curriculum

RONALD ROSS & GREENMEAD SCHOOLS Occupied Site Pool Feature Brickwork SEND Facilities Co-location Info box:Client: London Borough of WandsworthArchitect: HLM Architects                Quantity Surveyor: WYG                      Project Manager: WYG                Value: £14m The project enabled co-location of the existing 1FE Ronald Ross Primary School and 72-place Greenmead SEN Primary School on the Ronald Ross site, undertaking associated demolition and external works. The new building is designed to accommodate students with physical disabilities, incorporating accessibility and access measures, including a hydrotherapy pool, specialist hoists and equipment. Located on a confined site, a key aim was to reduce the building footprint, requiring an optimal balance of building scale and height. The solution provided a three storey “L” shaped building which takes advantage of the extreme level changes across the site creating two levels with direct access to the ground level. The school’s main entrance is situated at the centre of the building, between the two schools. Pulled away from the road, a dedicated pedestrian path runs between the vehicular access and Ronald Ross early years play area. Separate vehicular access is provided for vehicles with disabled access. A draught lobby is provided to protect the building entrance area from extreme weather, whilst also creating a third secure line within the entrance area. Both schools have general offices facing the entrance lobby area as well as a shared central reception desk area. The three halls have been designed to work as a single large space or series of smaller spaces to suit various requirements of both schools, such as dining, PE, school performances and assemblies. The school has a hydrotherapy pool, used extensively by the Greenmead children. Extensive use of track hoists facilitates movement and care of the students. All doors through which track hoists pass were made 2.5m tall so track can run straight through.   To support play space requirements, an element of roof play has been introduced above the Ronald Ross wing. This space will be used for safe play as well as external classrooms for teaching outside. Feature brickwork was used, with addition of perforated peepholes from the roof terrace The project achieved BREEAM Very Good with passive ventilation, high-efficiency boilers and low energy lighting systems. “What a pleasure it has been working with your team. Nothing has been too much trouble… including daft questions I sometimes raise, all answered with patience. [Neilcott Site Team] have also forged brilliant relationships with the children…visited the school council, as well as allaying any fears that our parents may have had at a recent coffee morning…your team are a credit to Neilcott”                                                           Julie Meredith – Head Teacher, Ronald Ross School