The Harrison Building is located in the centre of the Streatham Campus, surrounded by several other University buildings, key facilities, roads and footpaths. The works to the operational building included the replacement of the roof, northlights and complex building services, whereby a scaffold birdcage and temporary roof were erected over the building to facilitate the removal of asbestos also involving a significant amount of temporary works.
Several interior refurbishment sub-projects were delivered concurrently including the new state-of-the-art ‘Curriculum 2020’ suite, comprising lab space, workshops, offices and open-plan workspaces.
A carefully planned logistics strategy was developed for each stage of the project, the planning of which began at the earliest possible stage.
The Harrison Building’s technical challenges and site constraints, combined with the requirement for the building to remain operational throughout, placed additional importance on the safe segregation of our works, stringent management of hazards and careful mitigation throughout in order to minimise the impact of works on the student experience and day-to-day campus operations.
Neighbouring campus buildings were occupied throughout the works and continuity of “business as usual” was vital for all campus users.
Key to our successful relationship with the University was our established levels of communication, commitment, planning and understanding, coupled with the professional and considerate conduct of our site team at all times. Mitigation techniques included:
In understanding and upholding the University’s commitment, core values, approach to sustainability and the Environmental Climate Emergency, we are proud to have now delivered 7 carbon reduction projects for the University within the past 5 years, including this project, through:
All of Morgan Sindall’s sites remained open throughout the initial Covid “lockdown” period including the Harrison Building. A visiting HSE inspector described our infection control measures as “above compliance”.
100% payment within 30 days terms
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 43/45
96% waste diverted from landfill
100% timber responsibly sourced
159 tonnes carbon saving
12 SMEs
We have remained committed to provide a local workforce with the capability and capacity to deliver our clients’ requirements, whilst generating a positive impact on the communities and environments in which we work. At Harrison Building, an impressive 60% of our project spend was within the projects ‘catchment area’ (within 15 miles of site) and 75% within 30 miles.
34 beneficiaries
6 jobs created
320 trainee weeks
£1,730 donations
71 volunteer hours
82% social value created
We employed two construction management apprentices and supported our supply chain to recruit, train and retain local apprentice including MEP, where a further 2 apprentices were employed.
In recognising an opportunity to promote the varied and exciting careers available to the University’s College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Science (CEMPS) students, we helped in the organising of site visits and a ‘careers fair’, where students met members of our project team with engineering backgrounds and were also able to apply for work experience opportunities.
Throughout the project we have worked closely with local schools, Job Centre and Build Force, giving opportunities to those interested in careers within construction to gain practical, work-based experience in a range of areas, providing a total 14 week-long work experience placements.
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Morgan Sindall point of contact
On-line portal for notifying any defects with 3 priority categories for response times
On completion of the first phase, we dedicated a 3-week ‘post-contract’ period within our programme, giving our project management and MEP contractor the opportunity to provide any necessary training for building users, resolve concerns, and undertake ‘fine-tuning’ as required.
Email: kingsley.clarke@devon.gov.uk
Phone: 07805760622
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Phone: 07967 686066
Project Information
Procurement Type: Two stage
Form of Contract: NEC 4 Option A Design & Build
Contract Period: 83 weeks
Size: 8,650m2
BAM has built the new state of the art engineering block for the University of the West of England (UWE) on their existing, busy campus in Bristol, which remained live during the project. The new building provides teaching and research facilities for more than 1,600 undergraduate and post graduate students along with 100 academic and technical staff.
Facilities include engine test cells, wind tunnels and dedicated rooms for specific engineering disciplines such as composite manufacturing, machining and metrology.
The three storey building was constructed out of structural steel frame with in-situ concrete ground floor, precast concrete upper floors and stairs and a combination of Corten cladding and curtain wall as the exterior finish.
A full height atrium forms the entrance which was finished with glulam timber cladding.
The project had a challenging programme, with completion in 83 weeks. To help ease the programme we appointed one of our CAT 1 structural steel frame contractors early in the process. Included in their package was the supply and installation of the precast concrete and glulam timber cladding works and this eliminate the issues that arise with different contractors carrying out the works.
The project was designed in a 3D environment under BIM level 2 requirements thereby minimising design issues before manufacture. During the enabling works period a new site access was formed onto the campus ensuring the site was completely isolated from the rest of the campus mitigating any issues with site logistics and deliveries ensuring the site was secure and the university could continue to operate as normal.
The team worked together to successfully resolve a number of key challenges, notable examples include:
Bespoke Design – The client required a bespoke building that could cater for a diverse range of engineering subjects. Specific areas required very different physical properties, with each teaching space having a unique purpose that needed a bespoke design solution.
Noise / Vibration – Many of the ground floor engineering workshops generate high levels of noise and vibration.
Optimise functional learning space to create more opportunities for learning and a safe inclusive environment for students to flourish.
Bespoke Design – The building was designed from the outset to allow for the physical nature of different engineering subjects, with ‘heavier’, material-based engineering on the ground floor, moving up through ‘lighter’ and cleaner engineering forms (for example, hydraulics, acoustic and electrical) on each of the three floors.
More traditional ‘heavy’ engineering subjects such as structural engineering, construction material, mechanical workshops and engine test cells require large spaces that are highly serviced and are typically loud and dirty due to the machinery and processes required. These testing spaces needed to be designed in such a way as to absorb vibrational impact and minimise disturbance to other teaching spaces nearby, achieved through a reinforced concrete ‘floating slab’ mounted on special acoustic bearing pads at regular spacings.
A 1.2m thick reinforced concrete strong wall and strong floor, capable of withstanding 150t, has been designed to enable bespoke testing of construction material and aircraft components. Bespoke anchors embedded within the strong wall and strong floor and a 2.5t lifting crane have also been designed to meet the university testing requirements.
Acoustics – As many of these ground floor engineering workrooms generate high levels of noise, a key challenge for our acoustic engineers was to determine the level of sound insulation necessary in order to achieve acceptable internal noise levels in the adjoining rooms during the operation of equipment. Where necessary, a pragmatic approach between practical design and acoustics standards was reached.
On the floors above this, high-tech electronics labs, modelling and simulation suites and mechatronics labs with robotic arms had different requirements again, needing solutions to the equipment’s high heat gains and sensitivity to noise and vibration. A thermo-fluids lab required floating power sockets mounted from the ceiling to counteract any potential issues from regular water simulations, while a programming laboratory features a large robotic arm, which is very sensitive to the room’s doors opening and shutting.
Optimise functional learning space Combining circulation with social learning space has resulted in a very efficient building with almost every corridor having a dual function. This openness was a key part of the University’s brief, ensuring that the building avoided intimidating spaces to encourage a more diverse range of engineering students.
This stunning low energy building provides a state-of-the art and inclusive engineering faculty, that will assist UWE in its aim of encouraging greater diversity within engineering as a whole. In October 2021, UWE Engineering Building was awarded Social Infrastructure Project of the Year and overall Project of the Year at the BCIA awards.
The design focused on making the life cycle of the building as efficient as possible, helping to add long-term value.
Low carbon design principles, including natural ventilation and passive cooling, were adopted from the start of the design process to minimize the building’s carbon emissions in line with the university’s ambitious carbon reduction targets.
Energy and carbon reduction targets on this project were exceeded, with regulated energy use. The project achieved a very low A rated EPC value. The building achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, it’s well insulated and energy efficient. Use of LED lights, PV panels on roof and water harvesting for grey water. The new facility is connected to UWE District Heating system. Natural ventilation and light used as much as possible.
96 training weeks
42 career events
34 educational site visits
£146,088 Social and Local economic value delivered
Worked with UWE on future sustainability projects in Africa
Supported PHD students research into construction related information
Provided work experience to a number of construction students prior to pandemic
Introduced a mature apprentice through BAM shared apprenticeship scheme
At the peak of the pandemic, the project team pulled out all the stops to still handover the building clean and fully usable in time for the University to occupy ahead of the new academic year. Key to this was providing the University with early access to undertake fit out works.
BAM pulled out all the stops to still handover the building clean and fully usable in time for the University to occupy ahead of the new academic year. BAM allowed the University site access prior to Handover for its own fit out as this programme was also disrupted due to COVID. This was very much appreciated. Several snags remained post-handover and I have been working with BAM to close these out during the defects period.
100% payment within 30 days terms
To avoid construction access through the heart of the campus BAM proposed a temporary road to keep the works completely segregated, this measure along with a separate area for contractors parking and material storage made it it safer to build and minimised construction impacts. CCS Score 40/45
Email: kingsley.clarke@devon.gov.uk
Phone: 07805760622
Email: dbirch@bam.com
Phone: 07920 134843
This new state-of-the-art Tech Park provides new engineering and digital creative technology facilities to support 500 new science, technology, engineering, and maths undergraduate and postgraduate student places per year. The facilities provide a TV production studio, a green room and a “create, design, implement and operate” (CDIO) engineering space. Also included are a machine shop, welding area and fabricating laboratory (fab lab). In addition, an Institute for Sustainable Enterprise, and a Centre for Digital Technology, located in a new signature building, and will enable the creation of a Research Centre for Sustainable Operations and Departments of Data Science and Advanced Engineering & Design.
Passivhaus design principals were applied resulting in running costs efficiencies. Sustainability was key and several added value benefits were achieved, for example by protecting and increasing biodiversity levels in the stream which runs separates the buildings from the carpark during the construction works and inclusion of a swale.
BREEAM Excellent was achieved with exemplar levels of Responsible Construction Practices six weeks post completion.
The Grand Opening was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
— As the site was in a flood zone 3, this required the design teams to collaborate with us and our supply chain partners to finalise the design and construction methodologies as early as possible. We collaborated with the novated design team to fully understand the flood risks and several modelling assessments were undertaken to ensure that design was right first time.
The Challenge
Together, the teams engaged with the Environmental Agency early and designed both compliant temporary and permanent flood mitigation strategies, which included diverting the stream to enable the installation of a temporary bailey bridge over a storm ditch that traversed the site, giving way for plant and vehicle access during the enabling works. Whilst the enabling works were progressing, the teams concluded the permanent bridge design which featured concrete balustrade and culvert and tarmac. The bridge was designed to withstand the weight of HGVs and emergency vehicles.
—
The completed installation was in keeping with the design features important to the client, practical and in full agreement of the Environmental Agency.
Tower crane rescue courses were offered to subcontractors.
The site team remained on site 6 weeks post completion. Our Galliford Try Facilities Management team will be attendance for 3 years, 24 hours, 7 days a week making it easy for defects to be reported and resolved quickly.
In keeping with our payment method and agreement, all payment periods did not exceed 30 days
Low carbon design was included like passive design analysis, free cooling and future provisions for CHP. During the enabling phase, we acknowledged that the existing site had diverse habitat and preserved the wildlife by maintaining the wildflowers and grass for as long as possible. A dedicated foot traffic path was created through the field. Grass cuts were reused to protect the soil in the path and doubled up as safe passage during winter and wet months.
700 trainee weeks, 10no supported employment, 12no new recruits, 4no work placements including 16no graduates and 8 activities to support students, such as careers fairs and talks and site visits. In addition, we renovated the local cricket pavilion and our trainee site manager supervised the club showers and toilet replacement works.
“We are totally indebted to all involved who have saved our club after the fire and would welcome them all to join us on match days in the new facility that the council have provided for us and the local community.” Ian Guppy, from Aldwick Cricket Club, said the new building was a site to be proud of.
Paul Broggi, Property, Estates and Facilities Manager at Arun District Council said “I have been involved since inception and it has been an honour to work with all involved. It has been a bit of a labour of love and has taken a lot of time to resolve but I am extremely proud of the result.”
Further local community engagement projects included; Acoustic barriers and fencing utilised during the construction phase was donated to the Coast Guard, Created a new local allotment entrance and donated site fencing, Donated defibrillator to local scout group, Bognor beach clean, Planting and clearing of weeks of Hotham Park.
Email: James.wright@hants.gov.uk
Phone: 07761 330560
Email: angela.purse@gallifordtry.co.uk
Phone: 07593 561 855
University of Westminster
Willmott Dixon were appointed to deliver a £1.6m refurbishment in time for the 2021/2022 academic year. In order to meet this deadline, there was a very restricted programme, which was to be delivered in an occupied building.
The University of Westminster wanted to improve the overall student experience by creating flexible and engaging multi-purpose spaces.
Specialist teams from Willmott Dixon refurbished the ground and lower ground floors at the university’s building.
On the ground floor, three existing rooms have been repurposed to create a new, single, and accessible open plan area for work-based learning, with non-structural walls removed to enlarge the space.
A new heating and cooling system was implemented to improve the building’s thermal efficiency. Other improvements consisted of new lighting, flooring and stackable furniture, and a new AV system, including the latest display technology for wireless projection.
The 10-week project has delivered 8,500 sq ft of flexible and engaging space across 8 weeks within the building’s CSE Innovation Centre. The new space has been designed to switch between a 40 seater programming lab and a collaborative working area.
The space is also used to showcase student work, research posters sessions, and presentations, and act as additional meeting space.
Delivered on time enabling use at the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic year.
Email: guy.dawes@willmottdixon.co.uk
Phone: 07989179444
New build 299-bed student accommodation delivered as part of continued investment into the university’s main campus which is central to AUB’s future aspirations to grow its reputation as a leading arts university. This project was unusual for a student accommodation project given the major focus on sustainability and design throughout to reflect the university’s core ethos. The accommodation is formed of 3 buildings spread across 11 blocks set around a landscaped courtyard.
Intumescent paint
To successfully apply the full system of intumescent paint, we required three days of good continuous weather at a good regular temperature. During construction, wet weather conditions meant we could not apply the paint as required, which resulted in programme delay.
Meeting client’s budget and design intent
One of the client’s key drivers was the visual impact of the new building. However, the original design intent did not meet the client’s budget.
Covid-19 pandemic
When the lockdown occurred in mid-March 2020, the project was ramping up at just under 200 operatives working on the scheme. It was peaking at our planned full production flow, both internally, on the fit-out, and on the external envelope in parallel.
Within a week, it became very apparent, as the Government made essential announcements, that the site set-up and logistics needed to change drastically to meet social distance and Covid-19 SOPs requirements. This was alongside daily concerns of whether there would be enough materials and PPE continuity, all having to be constantly micro-managed from one day to the next by the site team, supply chain and MS procurement structure.
Initially, there was no choice but to force a scaling down of the workforce to about a third, then look to progressively increase back to similar numbers with more managed productivity, as well as:
Intumescent paint
We re-mapped the programme so we would get back on track with the start of enclosing the building and having trigger points for the internal trades which had slipped due to the issues with the paint. During this time, we also had the impact of Covid-19, which meant we had to comply with socially distanced requirements where only one trade was allowed per floor as opposed to having several trades working together on the same floor to catch-up with the programme.
Meeting client’s budget and design intent
We undertook a detailed Value Engineering (VE) process to collaboratively develop a solution which met both client’s budget and design aspirations. As part of the exercise, we looked at changing blockwork partitions to lightweight construction. In addition, we produced a ‘pick list’ of costed VE options for the Client to consider and held workshops with the Client’s team to present and review all options available; ranging from specification changes, to a full redesign of the scheme. The client took on-board the VE options which aligned with the aspects of the design which were important to them.
Covid-19 pandemic
To overcome this and be able to progressively return to strong productivity, we implemented a systematic one trade per floor social distancing requirement. This was particularly important with the sheer intensity of internal fit-out works inside the floorplates. On the envelope, the need to socially distance on the scaffold led to lowered numbers of operatives on any one elevation, however it meant an increase in numbers of active elevations at any one time.
From this scaled down position, we then progressively ramped trades back up as space, progress within zones, and materials supply continuity all gradually improved.
All of this still needed intense daily management and coordination, right through to completion and the team rose to the occasion.
Our relationship and strong support from AUB helped massively with provision of temporary space for welfare within the university, as well as increased ground space allocation during these difficult times to spread out our welfare arrangements. Each of our supply chain partners, alongside the entire Morgan Sindall team, encouraged manufacturers and suppliers to keep production high and supply channels open.
Despite the above issues, we managed to successfully complete this project in November 2020. All VE targeted across all design disciplines was realised without compromising the agreed design intent or quality. Everyone worked tirelessly to help the team on the ground to deliver this fantastic project successfully and to a delighted client who gave us a recommended score of 9/10. The project also received a Considerate Constructor’s Scheme Certificate of Excellence.
100% payment within 30 days terms
BREEAM Very Good
94% waste diverted from landfill
100% timber responsibly sourced
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 44/45
45 beneficiaries
32 SMEs
22 jobs created
724 trainee weeks
Schools engagement: 224 students
£9183.00 donations to charity
114 volunteer hours
74% social value created
Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Morgan Sindall point of contact
On-line portal for notifying any defects with 3 priority categories for response times
Email: kingsley.clarke@devon.gov.uk
Phone: 07805760622
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Phone: 07967 686066
A bespoke ‘BREEAM Excellent’, 3-storey engineering and research building, housing the world-leading VSimulator facility, providing specialist engineering facilities and open-plan, flexible workspace. The facility will play a major role in spearheading Exeter Science Park’s aspirations and reputation for research and innovation, stimulating a knowledge-based economy, delivering jobs, higher productivity and economic growth.
Providing unique simulation capabilities far beyond anything available worldwide, the VSimulator facility will be used by academics and industry to support multi-disciplinary research factors. Helping to address critical issues of human engagement with the surrounding environment, it will present research, commercial and training opportunities within an endless range of disciplines.
Imperative to the successful project outcome, the Virtual Simulation Chamber had to be handed over to the specialist engineers on time to commence installation of the state-of-the-art motion platform and other equipment.
Additionally, the basement concrete floor had to be within a 2mm-tolerance level and strict water-proofing specifications had to be achieved prior to the VSimulator installation.
Further adding to the challenge were complex logistics and mechanical and electrical installations, and the involvement of multiple, including global, specialist installers.
Through sectional completion (in October 2019), we handed over the basement to the University for fitting-out of the simulator, whilst the remaining works continued. We worked closely with the University throughout the fit-out works, ensuring this was undertaken safely while the remaining works took place concurrently.
During early design collaboration, we were able to offer our experience with basement construction to align buildable-construction details with specialist tanking manufactured products. It was at this early stage when a significant change in tanking membrane manufacturers occurred and, with the help of our supply chain family, we were able to provide a quick solution to the benefit of the client.
Communication was critical to ensuring we kept to programme, and we successfully managed the co-ordination of overseas meetings, held virtually, regarding set-up, installation and delivery of equipment for the motion platform.
Drawing upon the expertise and skills of the project team, the challenging project objectives were all achieved, to the delight of the client.
100% payment within 30 days terms
BREEAM Excellent
99% waste diverted from landfill
100% timber responsibly sourced
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 43/45
38 No of SMEs
10 beneficiaries
4 jobs created
49 trainee weeks
Schools engagement: 28 students
£200 donations to charity
39 volunteer hours
88% social value created
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Morgan Sindall point of contact
On-line portal for notifying any defects with 3 priority categories for response times
Email: kingsley.clarke@devon.gov.uk
Phone: 07805760622
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Phone: 07967 686066
A new build four-storey steel frame building which includes two sports halls, three fitness studios, a health and well-being gym, a strength and conditioning high-performance gym and high-quality teaching facilities on a live university campus. The scheme also includes underground car parking.
The ambitious vision for the University was to create a new sports facility to improve and modernise the University’s offering and enable excellence in sport, health and fitness related degree programmes and associated teaching and research for staff, students and the local community.
The seminar and gym areas of the sports complex are fitted with 20mm soft joints between the room floor slabs. These help to isolate them and significantly reduce the vibration that passes through them. In the weight training area, they went a step further and introduced a cast in-situ reinforced concrete sprung floor. This innovation means that the sports hall can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what activity they are involved in.
The iconic cladding system to the tower block represents the former use of the site with historical maps – a subtle presence in the perforation in the cladding system next to the standout face brickwork wrapping the sports halls. The building has provided a head turning modern build in Southampton’s old city centre.
The city centre project was constructed within a 86 week programme, delivering a four-storey sports complex with state-of-the-art gyms for both student and staff use. Along the stacked tower block of gyms and studios, the project had two full sized sports halls; one for multi-use catering for over 13 different sports, the other was dedicated to basketball, allowing Student Kestrels, the university’s leading sports team, a home court. Below the sports halls, basement parking was provided for staff, students and the public as well as accessible parking bays.
The project is a visually stunning, flagship sports facility which is enhancing Solent University’s offering in advanced sports degree courses, and it is already attracting more students to the local area and inspiring people to take part in sport.
100% payment within 30 days terms
99% waste diverted from landfill
100% timber responsibly sourced
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 44/45
36 No of SMEs
59 beneficiaries
18 jobs created & 184 trainee weeks
Schools’ engagement: 577 students
£3,046 donations to charity & 1,845 volunteer hours
84% social value created
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Morgan Sindall point of contact
On-line portal for notifying any defects with
3 priority categories for response times
Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk
Phone: : 07761 330560
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Phone: 07967 686066
Client
University of Exeter
Project Manager
Faithful + Gould
Architect
Faithful + Gould
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Value
£1.06m
Contract Period
25 weeks
Procurement Type
Traditional
Form of Contract
JCT 2011 SFC
The works involved removing and replacing all existing external windows and external doors, providing a new fire alarm and emergency lighting system, new sub-main power installation and new heating distribution pipework and radiators. Due to the pre-construction stage being very short, our team had to ensure a speedy and accurate order for new windows which were manufactured by Nordic and immediately delivered to site for just in time arrival for fitting.
The works were completed within an occupied building out of hours ie all works carried out overnight from 6pm – 7am leaving the areas in a suitable condition for re-use by the building users the following day which included the relocation of furniture and all associated equipment. The works also included floor slab concrete repairs acting as lintels. The works were completed within an occupied building over a series of 24 weekly phases.
These phases were programmed in detail with the stakeholders to incorporate each of their requirements ie to take into account their busy times; for example there was a 3 week period within the central block when it operated as a 24 hour call centre for a telethon. Within the programme, consideration was also given for graduation weeks, exam periods and open days. Each phase was vacated at the end of each working day and all works delivered out of hours. Works also included the erection and dismantling the scaffold around the live building, campus and the car park for Northcote House.
Senior management occupation of building
The building is the main HQ of the University which is occupied by all of the senior management team at the University including the Vice Chancellor.
The window installation around the Vice Chancellor’s office (Executive Suite) needed to be within strict timescales to be “seen and not heard”. We created a scheduled timetable with the building occupants so they were all aware of busy and noisy periods enabling them to plan their meetings accordingly.
Exam period
There were to be exams held within the building throughout the duration of our works therefore a schedule was worked out around timetables. Works were then planned to commence out of hours and at weekends to hand back the offices on the Monday.
Building remained fully occupied and operational throughout works
To enable the building to remain fully operational without disruption and accommodating the out of hours working, we photographed each room prior to the shift starting, moved all furniture away from the windows ready to remove and replace and then put the room back to how it was in the morning ready for staff to use the office space. The building was a large building and the works as such were done under multiple phases with each requiring very close liaison with the building users within each office area.
Our Success
Our Learnings
Value Added
Contract | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Gateway 4 Contract Completion | Variation |
---|---|---|---|
Time | 24 weeks | 24 weeks | 0 weeks |
Client
University of Chichester
Project Manager
AECOM
Architect
Stride Treglown
Contractor
Galliford Try
Value
£21.3m
Contract Period
85 weeks
Procurement Type
Two-Stage
Form of Contract
NEC3 Option A
Size
6,340sqm
Apprentices
700 weeks
The Engineering and Digital Technology Park provides a purpose built facility for the Engineering & Design and Creative & Digital Technologies departments. A landmark STEM building that was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
In addition to providing a range of research and practical spaces for these two departments, the new building includes the creation of a Research Centre for Sustainable Operations and Departments of Data Science and Advanced Engineering & Design.
The building is available for use by the industry and provides a large multipurpose engineering laboratory incorporating workshop, cleanroom and wet area, facilities to teach electronics and Computer Aided Design (CAD), a fabrication laboratory, prototype manufacturing facilities and collaborative co-working spaces.
The Creative & Digital Technologies Department includes 2no. sound stages, digital editing studios as well as a TV production studio, green room, social learning spaces and ancillary facilities.
The site is located within a flood zone 3 area, which posed a significant challenge for the design and construction, involving Galliford Try and the design team undertaking significant flood risk assessment modelling to ensure the design was deliverable.
This important project for the area was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in October 2018 and achieved BREEAM Excellent.
Value Added
Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
---|---|---|---|
Cost | £32m | £21.3m (included scope reduction) | -33.60% |
Time | 77 weeks | 85 weeks | 10.70% |
Client:
Royal Veterinary College
Project Manager:
Royal Veterinary College
Architect:
Rivington Street Studios
Contractor:
Morgan Sindall
Value:
£7.5 million
Contract Period:
49 weeks
Procurement Type:
Design & Build
Form of Contract:
JCT 2016
The extensive internal and external remodelling and refurbishment of the Hobday Building at the Royal Veterinary College campus in Camden, London. This major refurbishment upgraded and modernised the college’s teaching and communal facilities, which dated back to the 1930’s, to meet current and future demand for student places and to provide a modern state-of-the-art facility to rival international colleges.
Working in a fully functioning college, the remodelling works included a new dining hall, student break out spaces, new laboratories, staff rooms and offices, new WC’s, the entire replacement of an old goods lift and the installation of a new disabled access lift.
Working on a tight, occupied site
The major challenge of the project was carrying out significant demolition works, strip out of existing facilities, adding new structures and making structural alterations to the existing building with no reduction in occupancy.
We would usually expect this level of works to take place in a vacated building which we had full possession of, with all utilities switched off and temporary services in place, and no concerns about deliveries or movement of people. Carrying out these works in a fully functioning live college of 600 students and 75 staff required meticulous planning, collaboration and communication from both client and site teams.
The programme was developed in phases to allow the college to remain fully operational throughout, including a fully functioning summer school.
Working with animals and accommodating the client
Demolition and major structural alterations were carried out in a fully operational college which, in addition to the staff and students, housed several animals on site including two horses and two cows!
The only outside space was a thoroughfare used for all construction traffic and footfall, access to the site office and the college itself. An agreed process was in place – overseen by our logistics manager – to ensure all animals were safe and not stressed by the works, and that the site staff were safe, when the animals were moved.
From 08:00 to 08:30 and from 16:30 to 17:00 every day, they site team stood down works, cleared and cleaned the area so the animals could pass through safely with no hoist in use, no deliveries planned, no forklifts and no noisy works.
Managing logistics in a very constrained, live site
External space was extremely restricted with only one entrance shared with the college. Just-in-time deliveries were scheduled by our logistics manager, for both the construction site and the college – and across a busy cycle lane – and were all managed by our permanent gateman. Once inside the site, our telehandler unloaded materials which would either be transported by hand to the workforce or enter the building via the hoist at the back of the building.
All materials in and waste out had to pass through a space no larger than a double door. This included plasterboard, steel, timber and bricks.
Keeping to programme while managing asbestos removal
The RVC’s asbestos register didn’t accurately represent the extent of the asbestos throughout the building and a demolition survey was carried out that identified a significant amount more.
The site team managed £300,000 worth of asbestos removal, which was not in the original package of works, without impacting on the programme. This was achieved through communication and collaboration with the client to compile a programme that allowed access to remove asbestos and seal off areas in phases, whilst maintaining access, escape routes and safe working environments for all students and staff.
This was achieved in nine phases, working at night to remove the asbestos, moving it out of the building first thing in the morning and sealing the area during the day before releasing it back to the college once it had been given the all-clear.
Where work had to be carried out on classrooms, disruption was minimised by shutting down the area on a Thursday night and carrying out the equivalent of seven shifts across the weekend so the classroom could be opened up again on Monday morning.
Refurbishment of specialist laboratories
The college’s laboratories were stripped out and refurbished using specialist contractors to design, fabricate and install the laboratory furniture, install reverse osmosis key and medical gas services.
We created new and refurbished fume cupboards and worked with the design team on a brief from users on where to install power, using antibacterial wall trunking.
Specific antibacterial floor and ceiling finishes were sourced to maintain cleanliness and antistatic. The programme was built with specialists and subcontractors to lay flooring after all other works have been carried out to ensure they were 100% sealed and the finish protected.
Contact: Ray Mcauley
Email: ray.mcauley@morgansindall.com