May 11, 2015
We have recently completed and handed over this project for a first floor ‘infill’ development between a sports hall and swimming pool at the school. The project improves existing facilities and will add new teaching classrooms, sports offices and a dance studio to existing facilities.
From a ‘standing start’ in January 2014, we developed a design, achieved planning approval, developed production information, negotiated a contract and were on site for the start of the summer holidays in July 2014. Refurbishment and adaptation of the original ground floor changing rooms and fitness suite was completed by the October half term and the ground floor was then in use by the school while construction of new first floor continued above. The first floor will initially be fitted out as classrooms (to allow redevelopment of another teaching department) and will then be converted to its final use as a new dance studio, squash courts and sports classrooms.
The project has also addressed some pre-existing issues with the building, rationalising an odd corridor layout and creating a much more welcoming main entrance. We also removed the previously blacked out clerestory windows to the sports hall; This simple ‘move’ means that for the first time spectators can view activities in the sports hall from the new first floor corridor/viewing gallery.
As well as delivering this relatively fast-track project on time, it was also achieved at well below the average cost per metre squared for this type of building.
