THE PROJECT
Following a competitive two-stage procurement process we were appointed to construct this complex extension and refurbishment in the centre of the busy school campus. The development provides an extended multi-function auditorium and performance space sitting over refurbished art classrooms, a new entrance, exhibition area and refurbished Sixth Form social spaces.
The existing brick clad two storey structure was stripped back to a bare frame and then extended both vertically and horizontally to create the new cantilevered theatre. The surrounding school spaces remained in use through the build process, ultimately being re-modelled to form co-ordinating public reception and theatre back-of-house spaces.
The art classrooms below the theatre were completely re-modelled to provide open, light filled spaces with a fully glazed perspective to the school’s open spaces. These areas were handed over early with the complex theatre works continuing overhead.
The zinc and timber clad structure provides a striking contemporary appearance and focal point to the façade of the traditional School with approximately 435m2 of additional floor space over three levels.
Right from the start we all knew what a very tricky job it was likely to be. I cannot praise the Beard team enough. The quality is excellent and I think the school have a great building in no small part down to the contractor as evidenced by great finishes and a limited snagging exercise.
Dominic Morse, Morse Webb Architects
CHALLENGES
- Keeping the school watertight and insulated when the theatre roof was removed
- Minimising disruption to the adjacent Sixth Form spaces throughout the works
- Managing the existing building services passing through and over the old theatre
- The early completion of the ground floor arts block
- Sharing the site entrance with the pupils and coach deliveries
- Integrating the theatre ductwork into the limited headroom theatre in conjunction with the acoustic systems.
£3.2M
CONTRACT VALUE
56 WEEKS
CONTRACT DURATION
Customer
King Edward VI School
Architect
Morse Webb
Quantity Surveyor
RJ Consulting
Form of Contract
JCT standard
SOLUTIONS
- We designed out the temporary roof structure, saving £90,000 from the cost-plan whilst making the build process easier
- The temporary weatherproofing solution was changed from a horizontal cover to waterproof stud walls efficiently combining acoustic separation and weather protection
- Intrusive investigations allowed accurate planning of the services diversions through the old theatre. An enabling contract was used to carry out these works during convenient school holiday periods
- Completing the ground floor art spaces early and allowing occupation whilst works continued over head required temporary external access routes to be installed via the theatre windows and site works to be accelerated
- Most pupils arrive at the school in coaches with a drop-off zone shared with the construction access. Beard marshalled and managed the egress with no incidents using a fulltime gateman and gated pupil crossover
- Beard supported the design team offering extensive value engineering and access to specialist sub-contractors. This included reconfiguration of the high level theatre ductwork, optimising sight lines and allowing space for the acoustic deflectors.
