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Kidbrooke Park Primary School
The epitome of Team Collaboration
- Integrated Team of the Year 2022 – SCF Framework Awards
Appointed by Royal Borough of Greenwich, Galliford Try recently completed a 2 form entry community primary school for 420 primary and 26 nursery pupils, including a Behaviour Support Unit hosting up to 18 children. The works comprised a two-storey building, extensive landscaping and sports facilities served by a standalone changing block, which are used by the local community. In addition to a new multi-use games area (MUGA), there are outside learning areas including a wild meadow orchard, forest skills area, trim trails, horticultural area with raised planters and an amphitheatre. The project achieved BREEAM Excellent by maximising passive techniques to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
The Challenge
There were several challenges the team faced. Budget constraints and keeping to programme despite being bookended by Covid and three national lockdowns and consequently material shortages and delay were their biggest.
The Solution
Keeping to budget: By engaging with their supply chain partners early in preconstruction, with an emphasis on added value, improved buildability and thus cost efficiencies and actively identifying alternative materials throughout, Galliford Try were able to provide significant savings on the project. Some included redesigning the ground floor slab to in-situ suspended slab, simplification of the window head brick detail and creating dual site access to optimise sequencing, enabling the building and landscape works simultaneously. Comprehensive surveys and ground investigations prior to Contract Award mitigated risks by preventing abortive designs based on assumptions.
The use of BIM Level 2 even though it was not a project requirement reduced both design and installation inefficiencies, saving time and money.
On time delivery: In addition to placing orders early and using more readily available materials to compensate manufacturing shortfalls in the UK and abroad, Galliford Try replaced in-person site visits with Zoom, GoPro cameras and drones for client and end user progress updates and inspections when Covid restrictions and lockdowns were in place.
The Results
The school was completed eight weeks early despite the challenges faced with the additional pressures of three national lockdowns, social distancing and reduced productivity (less people on site and delayed materials). The team achieved an overall client satisfaction of 9/10, with 10/10 in time management and Health & Safety.
68
Apprentices
£10.4m
SME Spend
£4.8m
Added Value
9/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Fair
Payment timescales to all: supply chain and manufactures were agreed and adhered to throughout the project. Payment notices were issued on time with zero ‘pay-less’ notice and 97% of subcontractor final accounts were agreed within two months on Practical Completion.
Aftercare
The project and site manager stayed on site four weeks post project completion and continue to keep in touch with the school, in conjunction with our Aftercare team.
To compliment the Aftercare team’s collaborative workshop to the end users 12 weeks prior to completion, the project team completed several site tours with the school’s executives and headteacher during the final construction phase, where defect sheets were presented, and reporting procedures explained during the walkabouts.
Safe
The team achieved AFR ratio 0 and zero RIDDOR, had an average CCS score of 42 and was able to continue to operate safely during Covid with no major outbreaks. The site was awarded ‘Quarterly Safety Award’ twice.
Sustainability
Designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent and with that included details that maximised passive techniques to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts. Additional features incorporated a highly insulated building envelope, high thermal mass for night cooling, ventilation stacks with heat recovery, 90sqm of solar panels and electric charging points. Acoustic ceiling and breathing building units were installed in classrooms to enhance air quality for better student learning environment and achieved A for energy performance.
Following some tree removal, we reused the logs to form the forest trail and created pathways around the site using mulch (shredded trees). The mulch provided a more stable ground to work on, as well as acting as a nutrient bed for plants.
Legacy
Employment Skills Plan: 68no of apprentices, 4no of employees who were previously unemployed, 5no careers, curriculum and literacy talks and 8 hours of improving staff wellbeing sessions. Covid-19 prevented us achieving our targets in full during the construction phase. In agreement with Royal Borough of Greenwich, we delivered our promises post project completion.
Greenwich’s own: A labourer, gateperson and welfare labourer/cleaner were employed through Greenwich council’s employment scheme, Greenwich Local Labour and Business.
Looking after the smaller businesses: To encourage greater micro and VCSE participation, we held a Meet the Buyer event at Greenwich Town Hall. To ensure that they could work with us and other contractors in the future, we held individual workshops and supported them by completing minimum requirements like PAS91 and Builder’s Profile registration.
Greater emphasis on health and wellbeing: During the early stages of the pandemic, we arranged for a top medical visitor to deliver a toolbox talk to explain Covid 19 and ‘debunking some of the myths’ surrounding the illness. Not only did this reassure our operatives, but also provided them the opportunity to ask questions and have first-hand information affecting both theirs and their families’ health.
Lasting school legacy: We donated a mosaic plaque with the school’s crest at part of the Opening Ceremony.
SCF Framework Manager
James Wright
Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk
Phone: : 07761 330560
Contractor Framework Manager
Angela Purse
Email: Angela.Purse@gallifordtry.co.uk
Phone: 07593 561855
Exeter Science Park – Engineering Building
Project Background
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.
The Challenge
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.
The Solution
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.
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The Results
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.
2
Apprentices
100%
SME Spend
£ 248,500
Added Value
9/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Sustainability
BREEAM Excellent
99% waste diverted from landfill
100% timber responsibly sourced
Safe
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 43/45
Legacy
38 No of SMEs & 10 beneficiaries
4 jobs created, 49 trainee weeks & 28 students engaged
£200 donations to charity & 39 volunteer hours
88% social value created
Aftercare
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Morgan Sindall point of contact
On-line portal for notifying any defects with 3 priority categories for response times
Solent University Sports Complex
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Project Background
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 Challenge
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.
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The Solution
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 Results
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.
23
Apprentices
85.6%
SME Spend
£396,204
Added Value
8/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Project Awards
Solent received the University Bronze Charter Mark Award from England Athletics, one of 6 universities to receive a charter mark award to date.
and
Construction News Award 2020 – Community Engagement Project of the Year
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Sustainability
99% waste diverted from landfill
100% timber responsibly sourced
Safe
Zero RIDDORs
CCS Score 44/45
Legacy
36 No of SMEs & 59 beneficiaries
18 jobs created, 184 trainee weeks and 577 students engaged
£3,046 donations to charity & 1,845 volunteer hours
Aftercare
Soft landings for handover
Dedicated Morgan Sindall point of contact
On-line portal for notifying any defects with
3 priority categories for response times
Court Fields School Extension
Court Fields School
Wellington, Somerset
Project Details
Client
Somerset County Council
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Value
£736k
Contract Period
32 weeks
Project Brief
Expansion of the existing primary school with the addition of three new classrooms using the ‘Class Space’ standard design. The classroom extension included toilets and was situated on the old basketball court, north of the school’s sports hall.
The client wanted the classrooms to be flexible for potential future use and expansion. Therefore, the internal dividing walls were stud work and the school’s preferred option of radiators were used instead of underfloor heating. The position and orientation of the building on the basketball court area were carefully designed so the school could construct another block adjacent to this one in the future. Other considerations included design items, such as mains cable sizes.
The extension was constructed of steel frame, blockwork rendered externally, with a profiled metal roofing system.
“With pressure already on our existing primary schools, this will help to ease some of that and it is in all of our interests to make sure that any new school provides the very best education for those children.”
“Morgan Sindall achieved practical completion in accordance with school autumn term opening requirement. This included providing access for Somerset County Council and the school for FFE works.”
Project Competencies
Fair
Fair Payment Charter
Sustainable
Sustainable Development Charter
- Thermal insulation improved with revised roof specification reducing operating cost for client
Safe
Health & Safety Charter
- Zero RIDDORs
Legacy
Legacy Charter
- Site visits offered to any pupils interested in a career in construction
Aftercare
Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise
Community Engagement
Careers Opportunities
Key Challenges
Maintaining the school’s curriculum while working in a live school environment
- We regularly liaised with the school on any specialist activities, such as crane lifting. School holidays were targeted to carry out potentially disruptive tasks, such as removal of soil from site with multiple lorry movements.
Ensuring business continued as normal while coordinating deliveries
- Access for deliveries were planned during off-peak times and larger deliveries diverted to an alternative entrance at the rear, where necessary. Daily communication was undertaken with the school to keep them updated on deliveries and any changes to planned activities. Any disruptive works, such as the removal of soil from the site which required multiple lorry movements were planned during school holidays.
Ensuring the design allowed for future use and expansion
- The internal dividing walls were studwork and radiators used instead of underfloor heating. The position and orientation of the building on the basketball courts area, were carefully designed to allow an addition of another block in the future. Other consideration were also made when designing items, such as mains cable sizes etc., again for possible future expansion.
Project Takeaways
Our Success
- Through early involvement during the preconstruction stage we were able to undertake surveys of ground conditions and services to minimise unknowns and provide cost
assurance. - Excellent health and safety maintained within a live school environment with full secure site boundary, scheduling movement of vehicles during off-peak times and utilising
school holidays for potentially disruptive works. - Completion on-time, ready for the Autumn term and flexibility of the site team allowed Somerset County Council and the school to access the building for FF&E and fit-out.
Our Learnings
- The project was a D&B with limited collaboration required, however the project still required a regular flow of communication throughout the preconstruction and
construction phase to all parties
Value Added
- During the course of the project we value engineered specific products to provide a cost time benefit to the client whilst also increasing thermal efficiency and reducing Whole Life Costs. Various elements were looked at to bring overall costs down such as changing the roof and insulation. For the Whole life Costing, thermal insulation was improved with the revised roof specification which provided reduced operating cost for the client.
KPI’s & Statistics
| Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
| Cost | £2,462k | £2,417k | -1/8% |
| Time | 32 weeks | 32 weeks | 0 |
Contact: Alan Smedley, Framework Manager
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Reading Borough Council – 19 Bennett Road
19 Bennett Road
Reading
Project Details
Client
Reading Borough Council
Project Manager
Hampshire County Council
Architect
Broadway Malyan
Contractor
Morgan Sindall (overbury)
Value
£3.6m
Contract Period
26 weeks
Procurement Type
Design & Build
Form of Contract
JCT D&B
Size
1,308 m2 GIFA
Trainees
5
Project Brief
Overbury successfully delivered a full Cat B fit out over two floors and a mezzanine area for repeat client, Reading Borough Council (RBC). Procured through the SCF Framework, the newly modernised office space will house the Council’s Parks, Highways and Housing departments. The works also included the creation of a storage facility for the museums and modern records division.
Works to the office space included the creation of a breakout area on the ground floor, new toilets, refurbishment of the showers, new tea points, installation of a new lift and redecoration throughout. Structural beams were moved and adapted to ensure that the lift could be appropriately supported. A new structural steel beam was installed under the mezzanine to support the new storage equipment that would be installed on this floor. New roller racking storage and close control air conditioning units and dehumidifiers were fitted in the document and artefact storage areas.
The security of the building was increased with specialist steel doors and updated security systems.
The building is located in the middle of a busy depot which was in constant use throughout the project. Logistics had to be carefully planned; and effective traffic and parking management was key. Maintaining a strong relationship with the client ensured successful and efficient use of a challenging site.
Throughout the project we had apprentices and trainees working on site; directly for Overbury and for our subcontractors.
Key Challenges
Tight Programme to achieve Critical Path
The tight programme for the roller racking area presented a key challenge for the project. We had to ensure that this portion of works started as early as possible to meet the critical path. The programme was designed to progress these areas to mitigate the risk of not meeting the handover with the roller racking in place.
To ensure the smooth operation of the roller racking, the floor levels could only have a 5mm tolerance throughout the whole span of the warehouse. After the final stage of demolition was completed in the racking areas, we re-screeded the entire warehouse. This ensured the 5mm tolerance was met throughout the span which resulted in the perfect running of the racking system.
Plant Room Decommissioning
From the validation phases of the project it became apparent that there was an old mains electrical panel in a plant room in the centre of the building that was still live, this was due to be demolished to be used for racking areas. Requests to the electrical board were made immediately for them to disconnect and remove, however there was still to be a delay for these works. To ensure that this did not delay the overall programme we progressed with all other surrounding works, whilst keeping this plant room out of bounds to mitigate any health and safety risk. The sequencing of the roller racking was swapped to ensure the programme stayed on schedule.
Once the electrical panel was safely disconnected and removed, works to remove the old plant room and progress works for roller racking installation was accelerated so that the end handover date was met.
Deliveries Logistics
The office block was at the centre of a live and busy council depot. We had to balance deliveries and a shared car park with the council contractors and the challenging location also meant that large vehicles and deliveries could not access the site.
Collaboration, communication and organisation were key to maintaining a good relationship with the client while being efficient with deliveries and subcontractors.
Project Takeaways
Our Success
- Our open and honest approach meant that we maintained a strong relationship with the client. This collaborative approach and team ethos meant challenges were overcome quickly and effectively.
- We had an experienced and knowledgeable team who communicated well and worked closely with our Health & Safety Inspector to ensure high standards were maintained on our site at all times.
Our Learnings
- The design for the area under the mezzanine office and workshop was agreed late which put a strain on the programme, however the programme in this area was accelerated ensuring the end handover date was met.
Value Added
- Overbury and the supply chain had 2 Apprentices and 3 Trainees. We provided 152 weeks of training in total.
- Renewable/sustainability advice was provided to ensure a regime was in place which resulted in 491.3 tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill that equates to 96.8% of total waste.
- Use of banksman when large deliveries that required us to shut down the depot one-way system.
- Early communication with facilities team for large deliveries that shut down the depot road.
- Use of local subcontractors and local materials had a positive impact on the local economy.
Fulham Cross Girls’ School
Fulham Cross Girls’ School
London Borough of Fulham
Project Details
Client
Department of Education
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Value
£7.5m
Contract Period
80 weeks
Project Summary
At Fulham Cross Girls’ School, the works comprised the demolition of an old 1970’s science block and delivery of a state-of-the-art science building and gymnasium with bespoke science labs, staff rooms, offices and a double-height gym. The new steel frame building with precast concrete planks on the first floor and roof and external brick and clad facade provides 5 new laboratories, preparation room, sports hall, changing rooms, toilets and staff room. The building includes PV panels and attenuation tank.
The main gym complements the all-weather outdoor facilities with associated changing rooms, storage facilities and offices, and capacity for a variety of indoor sports including hockey, netball, dance, and rowing machine activity.
Fulham Cross Girls’ School new block was handed over successfully on budget in March 2020, safely and without delay following the government guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project Competencies
Fair
Fair Payment Charter
Sustainable
Sustainable Development Charter
- 97% waste diverted from landfill
Safe
Health & Safety Charter
- Zero RIDDORs
- CCS Score 43
Legacy
Legacy Charter
- 14 apprenticeships, 6 of which were new jobs created
- 7 work experience placements
- 272 Trainee weeks
- Schools engagement: 361 pupils
Aftercare
Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise
Community Engagement
Career Opportunities Outreach Programmes
Key Challenges
Minimising disruption
The project saw the use of temporary modular classrooms to house students away from the works in order to minimise disruption as much as possible to the overall learning environment.
Last minute programme changes
As of March 2020 and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Fulham Cross Girls’ School new block was handed over successfully on budget and safely following the government guidelines. Last minute programme changes were made to suit the school amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Morgan Sindall utilised their labour to help move the school in/out for handover 2-weeks early.
Noisy works
The school remained fully operational throughout the works which required Morgan Sindall to work closely with the school throughout to minimise the impact on teaching and learning. They re-programmed works to avoid noisy works during busy school time/utilising school holidays where possible.
Project Takeaways
Our Success
- Throughout the project we engaged well with the School, coordinating the works around their requirements to ensure that the safety of pupils was the upmost priority. We included the students at various stages of the project, including time capsules, summer BBQ and work placements, including those with supply chain and consultants.
- Foundation design: 142 piles at 300mm centres, total length 1,536m. The piles along with the raft slab form this innovative Comdeck solution that eliminates the need for additional pile cap/mat. This was implemented in partnership with Abbey Pynford and benefits include shorter programme, lower costs, safety, environmental and less disruption to the neighbourhood.
- Offsite manufactured elements: Prefabricated concrete slabs brought in to site enabled the floor and roof to be installed in 3 weeks offering some level of waterproofing. Offsite manufactured stairs could be lifted and used straight away, bringing time and safety benefits.
- Composite roofing units: Kingspan roof cassette system used to sports hall roof offering fast water-tight time scales for its installation.
- Fibre gypsum boards: As an alternative to standard plasterboard, Fermacell boards were used in the sports hall that have high durability and impact resistance so good for use in sports hall. As a result, no wet trades were required for finishing. The Fermacell boards are composed of recycled gypsum and paper so are environmentally better as it has no COSHH substances or additional glues. Also provides good fire resistance, acoustic performance and impact strength.
Our Learnings
- There was a requirement for additional car parking spaces than originally planned; we provided these by changing the logistics for staff parking and providing a better solution for all stakeholders.
- The revised piling/ground works scheme was reviewed collaboratively with the client through early engagement and the new solution resulting in minimised wastage, noise, dust and material use also including the added benefits for the safety, environment, community and cost/programme gain.
Value Added
- We enhanced and worked closely with local agencies to achieve the SCF ESP targets. In total 272 training weeks were delivered across the scheme including 14 apprentices, 6 of which were new jobs created and 7 work experience placements.
- Changing the logistics for staff parking created additional car parking spaces for the school providing a better solution for all stakeholders.
KPI’s & Statistics
| Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 71.7 weeks | 63.6 weeks | -11.4% |
Contact: Alan Smedley, Framework Manager
Email: alan.smedley@morgansindall.com
Totnes St John’s C of E Primary School Extension
Totnes St John’s C of E Primary School
Totnes, Devon
Project Details
Client
Devon County Council
Project Manager
NPS Group
Architect
NPS Group
Contractor
Morgan Sindall
Value
£1.6m
Contract Period
59 weeks
Procurement Type
Traditional
Form of Contract
NEC ECC Option A
Size
382 m2
Trainees
10
Project Brief
Works at Totnes St Johns CoE Primary School comprised the demolition of the existing temporary classroom and construction of a large two storey steel frame extension to the existing school. The new extension provided five new classrooms, group rooms, new toilet facilities, extension to existing hall and reshaping of the external footprint. The building was heated with underfloor heating and all classrooms had breathing systems installed, drawing fresh air in to the rooms, creating good working environments for the pupils.
The works all linked in to the existing school and required new openings and access ways formed to enable smooth passage from the existing school to the new extension.
Community Engagement
Career Development
Key Challenges
Working in a live school environment
The school remained fully operational throughout the works and with shared site access and segregation requirements required the contractors worked closely with the school throughout to minimise the impact on teaching and learning. Weekly meetings were held with the head teacher to plan works, ensuring they were planned carefully, enabling all users to maintain a high quality of safety throughout the contract.
High risk activities
Works were sequenced so that the high risk demolition and steel lifting activities were undertaken during the school holidays. We had to keep in regular contact with the school and would speak with the headteacher most days. These were highlighted as key objectives in our customer charter. All possible access points to the construction site were secured with solid hoardings / secured gates.
Detailed client co-ordination
The existing hall was extended to meet the requirements for the number of pupils currently at the school, requiring detailed client co-ordination and relocation of the school front entrance.
Project Takeaways
Our Success
- Throughout the project we engaged well with the school, coordinating the works around their requirements to ensure that the safety of pupils was the upmost priority. We included the students at various stages of the project, including Ivor Goodsite Site Safety presentations, buried time capsules and prayers in the wall.
Our Learnings
- There were several challenges surrounding the structure of the existing school and building which caused significant delay to the project but we worked well with the client team to find a solution that worked for all parties.
Value Added
- Morgan Sindall’s early engagement allowed us to complete a detailed appraisal of the project’s challenges and budget, offering our expertise and experience in dealing with the various logistical, design and financial constraints of the project.
KPI’s & Statistics
| Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £1,304,215 | £1,304,215 | 0% |
| Time | 45.3 weeks | 45.3 week | 0 weeks |
MidasDeane House
Deane House
Taunton, Somerset
Project Details
Client
Somerset West & Taunton Council
Avon & Somerset Police
Project Manager
Somerset West & Taunton Council
Architect
HLM Architects
Contractor
Midas Construction Ltd
Value
£6.7m
Contract Period
55 weeks
Procurement Type
Competitive tender – 2 stage
Form of Contract
JCT Design & Build 2016
Size
5,600m²
Apprentices
17
Project Brief
This scheme saw the transformation of this flagship town centre office building to the north of Taunton town centre, headquarters of Taunton Deane Borough Council, to bring together a range of council services under one roof. Midas completed works to this live, three-storey building in phases to allow it to remain open and in use throughout.
Midas undertook this major project on behalf of joint clients Somerset West & Taunton Council and Avon & Somerset Police, to deliver an improved customer experience in a refreshed building that provided a modern and comfortable workspace for its staff. Bringing Taunton Police and the Council together in one building enables the community to access more public services from one convenient location.
The complete refurbishment of Deane House has produced a more energy efficient building that offers flexible, open plan working and communal spaces in Grade A office accommodation with high spec finishes throughout. The building can be adapted for future needs and has potential to accommodate additional public or private sector partners in the future.
The project received a score of 92% in the customer satisfaction survey at practical completion.
Community Engagement
Career Development
Key Challenges
Building remained occupied by Council staff and open to the public throughout the project
- To safely manage works in this occupied building whilst maintaining public access, Midas completely enclosed the site with hoarding and fencing. The team segregated public routes, employed a traffic marshal to control site access, and installed an overhead fan at the rear staff entrance to protect users. Routes to and from the building were controlled and described within the site plans, with each area locked off and controlled by site staff. The team completed works to the new reception prior to removing the old reception, to maintain public access, and kept access and fire routes clear for Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) staff. Internally, Midas segregated the building using floor to ceiling temporary partitioning, erected in early stages of each phase. The team formed the partitions with metal stud plasterboard, decorated and with skirting fitting on public facing sides to appear like a permanent wall for the aesthetic principal, whilst also providing acoustic protection. The team attached translucent film to some windows in occupied parts of the building to provide additional privacy for TDBC staff.
Bringing the project in line with the budget
- Midas completed an extensive best value review with the client in order to achieve a cost plan figure in line with their budget. Through early subcontractor involvement in design development at preconstruction, Midas delivered a total of £709k of savings to the client with a combination of best practice and added value reviews. The design team, led by the Midas Design and Build Manager, collaborated with subcontractors and specialist contractors to provide alternative best value product solutions and reviewed sequencing to resolve programme issues and mitigate delays, at a saving of £607k. The team saved an additional £39k through effective risk management and review.
Phased project with sectional completion
- Midas met with key Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) staff prior to commencing each phase of works to amend site logistics whilst preserving safe and secure access for building users. Midas established segregated public access routes using pedestrian barriers externally and temporary partitioning internally, with all gates and doors secured. The team maintained communication with TDBC staff to discuss and agree access provision and ensure the preservation of emergency escape routes, and provided advance notice of noisy, vibratory or dusty work activities, scheduling these in line with TDBC requirements. Simon King (Project Manager) and representatives from TDBC met weekly and before each new phase of work, with the agenda including upcoming risks, any issues, phasing, the current programme and an update on sections handed over to the client to resolve any outstanding issues. These open forum meetings helped to ensure on-time completion.
Project Takeaways
Our Success
- Midas conducted snagging checks on subcontractor works packages at the end of each phase, prior to completing client snagging, to ensure the team addressed any issues at each phase of the works. This resulted in minimal outstanding issues at practical completion and all snags closed off within a week. The team managed the phased snagging process through the Midas Quality Plan, agreeing the standard of the works with the client as the project progressed to meet their requirements at the end of each phase.
- The logistics of the site changed regularly as Midas handed over phases of the works and commenced new phases. Midas implemented a bespoke traffic management plan including timed deliveries to avoid peak traffic times, and banked plant movement supervised by a full time, fully trained traffic marshal. Midas provided suppliers with route directions to the site, programmed and coordinated deliveries and provided holding areas to limit disruption to local traffic. The team controlled pedestrian access with designated crossing points and rerouted the public across a dedicated timber bridge over the grass. The bridge had an anti-slip surface with ramp access. If deliveries crossed the pedestrian right of way, the team used temporary pedestrian barriers. The full time gate controller managed contractor and visitor parking, escorting and directing visitors.
- The site team completed some works outside of the Council’s operational hours, to minimise disruption, including significant weekend working. Midas maintained utilities connections to live areas of the building, completing a full shutdown and service swaps outside of the building’s operational hours.
Our Learnings
- The building contained live services. This was a high risk removal due to the complexity of services above the grid. Midas isolated and checked prior to commencing demolition and soft strip works, completing ten weeks of diversion works prior to commencing, closing off and disconnecting services and water to sections of the building in phases in preparation for demolition. Midas maintained utilities connections to live areas of the building, completing a full shutdown and service swaps outside of the building’s operational hours. The team took down the old entrance lobby later in the programme, once the new reception was complete and in use. The site zoned off areas for demolition and segregated waste, removing waste through the segregated dedicated site entrance away from the live reception.
Value Added
- This project worked to the Employment Skills Plan (ESP), including: supporting three 16+ work placements and one 14-16 work placement; supporting five curriculum activities including hosting a school site visit, an Employability Day for Clyst Vale Community College and a site visit for students from Bridgwater & Taunton College; supporting eight apprentice starts, three existing apprentices and six apprentice completions; supporting eight NVQ starts and six NVQ completions for subcontractors; advertising nine jobs through local employment vehicles; delivering nine training plans, four supervisor qualifications gained and four leadership and management qualifications gained for subcontractors; 59 qualifications gained for Advanced Health & Safety for subcontractors. The site also employed a Taunton resident, who had previously been in the armed forces, as a Trainee Site Manager.
- The site employed local labour with 75% of the workforce living within a 30-mile radius of the site. The project supported the local economy with 100% of the total firms on site being small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), of which 50% were based within the local authority boundary.
KPI’s & Statistics
| Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
| Cost | £6,782,797 | £6,752,576 | -£30,221 -(0.4%) |
| Time | 63 weeks | 63 weeks | 0 weeks (0%) |
Midas Group LtdConstruction Training Centre
Construction Training Centre
Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
Project Details
Client
Weston College
Project Manager
Weston College
Architect
View Architects Ltd
Contractor
Midas Construction Ltd
Value
£2.9m
Contract Period
33 weeks
Procurement Type
Competitive tender – 2 stage
Form of Contract
JCT Design & Build 2016
Size
1,809m²
Apprentices
7
Project Brief
Created to address the increasing demand for a skilled construction workforce in the region, the Construction Training Centre provides state-of-the-art specialised teaching space, offering training specific to the construction industry and designed with employers’ needs in mind. Midas delivered this single-storey building in a semi-rural location to the west of Weston-super-Mare.
Made possible by match funding from Weston College and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority, the Centre is taking a lead role in answering the construction skills shortage. The main teaching centre is a block of modular buildings, constructed off site, connected with a central corridor covered by a canopy. Adjacent to the modular block are three connected steel frame cladded sheds. The project includes several areas of storage and work yard together with a dig training area.
Enabling works included demolition and removal of old farm buildings, part piled foundations and excavations for ground beams, slabs and drainage, infill and diversion of two sections of a watercourse and formation of attenuation ponds with a new water route.
The client scored the project 91% in the customer satisfaction survey at practical completion.
“The Construction Training Centre really is meeting the need of the industry. Construction workers were having to go as far as Birmingham to complete their training – which includes compulsory qualifications. This centre has brought all of the training under one roof, and is conveniently located just minutes from junction 21 of the M5. Our courses are industry-recognised and nationally accredited, which is a real plus for a new facility. This has helped to ensure that we have a busy start to life at the Construction Training Centre, and we look forward to this continuing over the coming months.”
Community Engagement
Career Development
Key Challenges
Weston College leased the land on a five-year basis
- Due to the time limit of the lease, the Construction Skills Centre needs to be relocated at the end of the College’s contract on the land. Midas addressed this through design and construction of a combination of refurbished modular buildings and new build warehouse, to deliver a structure that can easily be dismantled and relocated at the end of the lease. The modular building is formed of 23 units that can be picked up and moved in blocks of 13, and use of off-site modular construction resulted in a shorter on-site programme time and less waste. As agreed with the client, Midas left bolts exposed in the warehouse unit to enable it to be easily dismantled and relocated. Midas amended the foundation design to pad and raft foundations, which will be easier for the client to clear at the end of their lease period. To manage the high water table with pad and raft foundations Midas completed an extensive drainage scheme under licence from the North Somerset Levels Internal Drainage Board (NSLIDB), bridging over the rhynes in several places and installing filtration systems to prevent run off.
The client required the project delivered to BREEAM Good
- The project surpassed the client’s target and achieved BREEAM Very Good through numerous environmental measures. The team protected local wildlife, plants and waterways throughout the works; installed sensitive lights to prevent disturbance of bat feeding routes; used of off-site modular construction to reduce waste; installed permanent, secure bicycle storage for 20 bikes; diverted of 99.5% of waste from landfill; and used a community recycling scheme for wood waste and unwanted timber pallets. The project achieved an air tightness result of 4.23 & 3.68m³/hr.m² @ 50 Pa, against a maximum of 10.0m³/hr.m² @ 50 Pa. Early in the project, Midas commissioned an ecological survey that confirmed the rhynes (drainage ditches used as local flood management systems) did not contain any protected species and prior to works the site team completed a visual survey to check no significant wildlife was present.
A challenging site with a high water table and numerous watercourses, in an environmentally sensitive environmental area
- Midas liaised with the NSLIDB to manage the risk of works in proximity to rhynes. The team secured a licence from the NSLIDB to work within nine metres of rhynes, ensuring they remained clear throughout the works. Midas identified drain routes and risk potential as part of site inductions, and managed surface water through an efficient drainage design. The site used silt busters to filter all water sent off site. At the start of the project Midas implemented a Construction Environmental Management Plan to manage the high pollution risk to adjacent properties and the rhynes; protected existing ditches and rhynes from site run off; and identified watercourses, drains and their outputs. The site controlled water run-off with straw bales placed along the rhynes and formed a clay earth bund to prevent polluting nearby watercourses, with spill kits stored on site and a pollution incident response action plan in place. Prior to undertaking diversion works to the rhyne within the site and for drainage works to the pond, the Assistant Site Manager contacted the inland drainage board and received verbal approval to pump extracted water into the grassland around the site.
The design team simultaneously worked on two projects for the client: the Construction Training Centre and the Health and Active Living Centre, and brought both in line with the client’s budget
- Midas came onto this project at RIBA Stage 1, appointing our own design team with Smith Consult Limited novated to the M&E subcontractor. Both projects were initially over the client’s budget, and Midas completed an extensive and effective early value engineering exercise with them at RIBA Stage 3, providing design and material amendments to make the projects financially viable. Midas conducted stakeholder engagement exercises, working with the college and modular manufacturers to conduct a best value review of external finishes, delivering a cost-effective solution without compromising the quality of the finish. Midas also completed a total redesign of both the Health and Active Living Centre and the Construction Training Centre to ensure the architectural plans met the correct site requirements. The team designed out any challenges in the planning stages, tailoring the foundation designs to suit the site conditions following site investigation and completion of archaeological reports.
Project Takeaways
Our Success
- Enabling works included demolition and removal of timber cattle sheds that had evidence of fragile asbestos cement roofing, asbestos containing materials and possible ground contamination. Midas appointed an asbestos surveyor and remover and produced an Asbestos Management Plan with a Cat B plus a Point of Work Risk Assessment for these works. The site had an asbestos-sealed waste skip, which the team had taken off site as soon as possible following completion of the removal works. Midas included asbestos awareness as part of site inductions.
- To reduce inconvenience to local residents, Midas encouraged deliveries to use major routes into the town and approach the site via the more suitable A370. Deliveries entered the site via the shared access road off Churchland Way, which residents used to walk their children to school. Midas liaised with the neighbours to discuss access issues and the Assistant Site Manager provided them with hi-vis tabards to high light their presence during school walks along the lane. To reduce risk, the site scheduled deliveries; enforced a 20mph speed restriction on the lane; and established a suitable sized entry gate and hard standing area, which housed up to two simultaneous deliveries, to get deliveries in off the road as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary congestion. The site unloaded deliveries using a telehandler and contained a turning circle to eliminate the need to reverse onto the highway. Site traffic exited under supervision by a vehicle controller to reduce risk to avoid risk of collision on the public highway and to reduce risk to pedestrians passing the site.
- To manage the site’s high water table and proximity to rhynes, Midas implemented an extensive attenuation scheme, effectively selecting the most appropriate groundworks subcontractors to ensure success.
Our Learnings
- Due to its proximity to a Norman fort, there was a risk of archaeological importance on the site. Prior to commencement, another company completed a site investigation (SI) to establish ground conditions. Midas accessed the SI information from a separate planning application on the site, which confirmed poor ground conditions and a known flood risk. Midas interrogated SI reports, including historic data provided at tender stage, and appointed Wessex Archaeology Limited to investigate the site and complete trench digs across the area prior to Midas commencing works.
Value Added
- Midas delivered £511,960 (19.5%) of added value and best practice savings at Gateway 4. Savings included a reduction in the foundation design, following close review with the supply chain, for a saving of £205k; revision and reduction of the planned site entrance to one combined entrance, saving £9,460k; reducing the covered area and altering external finishes to save £90k; and retaining excavated soil onsite for a saving of £60k.
- The site employed 83.3% small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with 67.7% of the SMEs based within 30 miles of the site.
- The project team collaborated with the team at the Construction Skills Centre site to deliver a combined Employment and Skills Plan. The sites supported eight work experience placements; created 13 jobs with the National Skills Academy for Construction, including six apprentices; supported 11 Construction Careers Information, Advice & Guidance events; delivered 218.9 training weeks on site; delivered four training plans for subcontractors; and supported the achievement of 85 NVQs and industry certifications. Representatives from the project attended the North Somerset Careers Convention and the Weston-super-Mare Careers Convention.
KPI’s & Statistics
| Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
| Cost | £2,918,791 | £2,631,357 | -£287,434 (-9.8%) |
| Time | 26.1 weeks | 25.9 weeks | -0.29 weeks (-1.1%) |
Midas Group LtdOxford Advanced Skills Centre
Oxford Advanced Skills Centre
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Project Details
Client
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
Project Manager
Ridge & Partners LLP
Architect
Ridge & Partners LLP
Contractor
Midas Construction Ltd
Value
£8.8m
Contract Period
54 weeks
Procurement Type
Competitive tender – 2 stage
Form of Contract
NEC3 Option A
Size
4,074m²
Apprentices
7
Project Summary
Delivered at the secure Culham Science Centre, a dedicated innovation and enterprise park in Oxfordshire, the Advanced Skills Centre is a flagship training facility. Owned and managed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Culham Science Centre is a world-class research site that hosts 40 businesses employing approximately 2,000 people in fields including aerospace, technology, autonomous vehicles and biotechnology.
Constructed in proximity to live business and educational facilities, the project included design and build of the Centre, together with sports and social facilities and associated external works. Works included site preparation and groundworks, followed by construction of two steel frame buildings – the Centre and a sports pavilion – with a cladding and render envelope and a single ply roof to the Centre. Midas completed full Cat A and Cat B fit out, including M&E, plumbing and service connections. Externally, the team completed car parking and hard and soft landscaping.
The purpose-built Centre has the capacity to train up to 350 apprentices per year, offering specialised training for apprentice engineers and technicians. Designed with these industries in mind and following consultation with local businesses, the three-storey centre provides labs and workshops to support training in specialised research areas including mechanical and electrical, robotics, cryogenics, fluids and vacuums.
Key Challenges
The client required the project delivered to BREEAM Very Good
- Midas successfully achieved BREEAM Very Good with measures including PV panels installed on the roof; diversion of 94.55% of waste from landfill; bicycle storage and changing facilities; and by undertaking tree protection measures. Midas commissioned a prestart inspection by a suitably qualified ecologist – from Windrush Ecology – and, in line with their recommendations, delivered toolbox talks to site operatives on topics including protecting site ecology and compliance with ecological legislation. Midas delivered training for building users, including Building User Guides, and completed seasonal commissioning activities for the 12-month period after occupation. The team placed bird feeders at the site boundary, providing winter feed for birds, and rescued a mole from an existing building.
Achieving the client’s budget
- Midas used a combination of best practice and added value solutions to offer the client £767k (8.7% of contract value) of savings at the Gateway 3 construction stage. Midas approached supply chain members including the roofing and cladding contractor and the piling contractor early in the programme and invited them to participate in design team meetings to aid with detailing. Solutions included retention of excavated materials for reuse in landscaping and site fill, for a saving of £117k; identifying £140k of best value savings at Cost Plan; and completing a post-tender best value review with our subcontractors, to offer £327k of savings to bring the works in line with the budget. Our supply chain partners re-appraised the ground investigation report to develop a vibro-compacted stone column solution in lieu of continuous flight auger piling piles. This saved £45k on the budget and mitigated any programme delays. The team proposed using face fix cladding panels with colour match fixings, to negate the need for helping hand brackets (saving £55k); and the project reused excavated topsoil in lieu of imported materials, saving £117k and achieving a BREEAM credit.
Managing works at a secure, sensitive site
- Culham Science Park is a secure site with a security gate staff with security guards. UKAEA Security required advance notice of all visitors attending the site, with attendance tracked by their team. Midas erected Heras fencing and solid hoarding around our site to segregate works, with Heras fencing to the contractor car park and crowd control barriers forming separate client routes. The team shared construction access with a project to the north of the site, with UKAEA Security managing traffic access. Midas liaised with UKAEA site security and other construction project teams to coordinate and programme deliveries, and checked vehicles for the use of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme road safety provisions. To mitigate dust and noise disturbance to the science park, operatives used vacuum cleaners with filters; dust extraction on saws, sanders and floor grinders; and water suppression attached to the petrol disc cutter. The team used a dedicated cutting area, combined with acoustic panels to reduce exposure to others on site.
Project Takeaways
Our Successes
- Midas worked simultaneously on two projects for the same client at the same site, and introduced savings and improvements to the programme and supply chain by sharing resources across the two projects. The two projects had separate access routes and security checkpoints, to avoid causing queues at the main gate.
- Culham Science Centre has plans to substantially increase commercial activity and construct new buildings at the site. Midas completed additional infrastructure works, added to our project by the client during the programme, in order to prepare the site for potential future developments. The Midas team worked closely with the client to plan and review these additional works to future-proof the site.
- Each subcontractor attended a prestart meeting to review safety and quality requirements, at least two weeks prior to their start on site. The project used Field View in tandem with 4Projects to track and manage snagging and defects. The client bought into this software and accessed Field View to complete their quality inspections. All subcontractors completed their inspection, test plan, risk assessments and method statements together as part of the pre-start process. The Midas site team used tablets with Field View to complete weekly quality and safety inspections of subcontractors and our supply chain.
Our Learnings
- The site included an incoming underground high voltage electricity supply and fibre optic cables crossing the site, with live services within an adjacent block. The team pegged out the route of live services and identified them with signage. UKAEA diverted the fibre optics prior to Midas commencing ground excavations; Midas received written confirmation of disconnection from the client prior to commencement of works. The team battered back excavations, controlling the reduced and formation level excavations under permits to dig and protecting open excavations with Heras fencing.
Added Value
- As part of this project Midas worked to an Employment & Skills Plan (ESP), including: five work experience placements; seven apprentices employed; 12 jobs created; 167.4 waged training weeks delivered on site; 32 workforce qualifications supported; and four training plans for subcontractors delivered. The site hosted a visit from six local college students.
- The project supported the local economy with 93.3% of companies employed via the project being small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 55.9% of those based within 30 miles of the site.
- The site held a topping out ceremony with a Christmas wreath on 11 December 2018, attended by over 30 people including representatives from MTC Training, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Culham Fusion and UKAEA.
KPI’s & Statistics
| Contract | Gateway 2 Planning | Gateway 3 Contract Agreement | Variation |
| Cost | £8,881,816 | £8,810,919 | -£70,896 (-0.8%) |
| Time | 48.1 weeks | 47 weeks | -1.14 weeks (-2.4%) |
KPI Graphs Apprentices 7
Average AIR 2.1
Average CCS score 37.5
Waste diverted from landfill 94.5%
Cost/m2 £2,170m²
Cost/m2 excl abnormals £1,542m²
