Hundreds of excited primary school pupils started life at a new state-of-the-art school in Chryston this week.

 

The new Chryston Community Hub features 17 bright and spacious classrooms for up to 509 pupils and replaces the existing Chryston Primary School building.

The new hub will also offer significant benefits to the broader community in Chryston for local groups and organisations to use.

Jilly Moffat, Head Teacher of Chryston Primary School, said:

“It was wonderful to see the look of joy on the faces of so many children this morning as they entered our wonderful new home.

“It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter for the school and such an exciting time for us and the wider community as we look forward to benefiting from all the wonderful new facilities that the hub has to offer.

“My special thanks go to all the pupils, staff and parents who have made these first few days so enjoyable, and I look forward to many more great days together in our fantastic new hub building.

“Children and young people, staff, parents and the local community worked closely with the design team to ensure the design of the campus reflects the educational aspirations of the council, while also taking into account the requirements of the local community and the natural heritage and architecture of the area.”

 

Hannah, a House Captain at Chryston Primary School, added: “I was completely stunned to see our new school – it’s amazing. We love the new classrooms and the outdoor areas.”

The £ 22 million facility also includes a new Community Health Clinic for NHS Lanarkshire, replacing the Muirhead clinic, which will open later next month.

Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive, NHS Lanarkshire, said:

“This entire development is an outstanding local facility. People in and around Chryston will now have access to a wonderful modern health and care clinic that delivers key services in the heart of their community.

“The purpose of this new centre has always been to enable and facilitate fundamental positive change, not simply replace the previous health centre building and services. This state-of-the-art centre will provide an opportunity to further tackle health inequalities by improving the delivery of services – shaping them around the needs of patients.

“This will build stronger co-operation between patients, their carers and families, NHS staff and all partner agencies.”

The new facilities at the Lanrig Park site boast impressive outdoor and indoor sports facilities with a bike ability track, a multi-use games area, an outdoor amphitheatre, covered outdoor teaching areas and various outdoor play equipment and both indoor and outdoor chutes.

Some of the community benefits in developing the Workforce for the Future included:

  • Four apprentices started during the construction of the hub.
  • 70 days of work experience/placements on site.
  • 11 Educational activities, which included: design, cost and build of bug hotels with the pupils of Chryston Primary School. Design and build of viewing platform with the construction class students at Chryston High School.

Robertson Construction pledged a community fund of £15,000 Five groups have been awarded a share to enable them to fulfil their requirements such as an outdoor forestry education programme, health and wellbeing project, and community garden.

There are extensive landscaped playground areas for the school including growing areas and sandpits, healthcare gardens and community greenspaces and new paths have been designed encourage active travel to and from the new hub.

The new Chryston Community Hub also features:

  • Electric vehicle charging spaces
  • Changing places and breastfeeding friendly facilities
  • Drama box/stage area with ballet bars and mirrors
  • Digital learning area and multi-purpose room
  • Demonstration kitchen for children
  • Meeting rooms
  • Shared staff zone

Chryston’s new school and health clinic is being delivered by council development partner Hub South West, lead designer Ryder Architects, with the build being carried out by Robertson Construction.

The new Chryston Community Hub was jointly funded by North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire.

The new facility is a core part of North Lanarkshire Council’s plan for the area, which prioritises investment in education, skills development, and employment opportunities to ensure residents have access to the resources they need to thrive.

 

Source: North Lanarkshire Council

Actis is donating enough Hybris to insulate a classroom being given away free of charge by

customer BGR Group to one of the hundreds of schools affected by the RAAC crisis. 

Insulation specialist Actis has teamed up with a specialist in carbon neutral modular buildings which is offering a free classroom to one of the hundreds of schools affected by the RAAC crisis.

 The BGR Group, which uses Actis Hybris honeycomb style insulation in all its classrooms as well as its garden buildings, has launched a competition to offer a free classroom to one of the schools worst affected following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in its buildings.

 And Actis has offered to supply the insulation element of the project free of charge.

 The 60m2 of 140mm Hybris and 70m2 of 90mm Hybris it is donating is enough to insulate a classroom for 30 children.

 BGR Group, which supplies its classrooms to numerous educational establishments across England, wanted to play a small part in helping schools get back on their feet after being forced to shut when RAAC was found in their buildings.

 Its competition asks schools to outline the problems they are experiencing and how they are attempting to continue educating their pupils during the closures, with the classroom, including all the labour, going to the school pitching the most passionate bid for assistance.

 BGR Group MD Richard Burns says he hopes the winning school will be able to reduce its reliance on remote learning and minimise the need to bus children elsewhere for their lessons.

 

“Amidst the chaos of RAAC school closures and widespread disruption up and down the country, the situation does at least provide the education industry a unique opportunity.

“This is a shot at redemption in learning from prior mistakes and constructing even better educational facilities fit to inspire the high-skilled workers of the future,” he said.

 

Actis area sales manager Joe Glaze, who is behind the offer of the free Hybris for the project, said:

“When we heard that BGR Group wanted to donate a classroom to one of the many schools affected by the RAAC crisis we were delighted to be able to help. We hope that some of the children whose learning has yet again been disrupted – first by Covid and now by this – will have a slightly easier learning experience this time around.”

 

The winning school will see the entire project completed within four weeks.


CLICK HERE for more details on how to enter the competition to win the free classroom

 


 

 

 

Dr Jane Hawking unveils plaque at her former husband’s alma mater which names building in his honour

St Albans School was visited by Dr Jane Hawking, the former wife of school alumnus, Professor Stephen Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA, to name its new state-of-the-art science facility in his honour.

 

The Hawking Building, as it will now be known, houses the Science Department with dedicated physics, biology and chemistry labs and prep rooms, new facilities for Computer Science and teaching rooms that have been completely refurbished. In addition, the building houses a telescope that belonged to Professor Hawking, kindly donated to the Astronomy Club by the family.

 

Dr Jane Hawking unveiled the plaque after receiving a tour of the site led by the Headmaster along with Dr Hawking’s husband, Mr Jonathan Hellyer Jones. As well as visiting the upgraded facilities, there was a demonstration of the telescope and a display of artefacts from the School’s Archive relating to her former husband.

 

Dr Jane Hawking said:

“Science was obviously hugely important to Stephen in his schooldays, and it is an honour to see his legacy continued at his former school. Science has progressed so far in recent decades, and The Hawking Building gives students access to top-quality facilities that will encourage the next generation of brilliant minds.”

 

Jonathan Gillespie, Headmaster of St Albans School, said:

“I’d like to thank Dr Hawking for naming our new facilities, and the donors whose generosity funded this project. The new labs and equipment will enable us to continue delivering the highest levels of science education. Professor Hawking is one of our most famous alumni, and it is a pleasure to commemorate his inspirational legacy to the School in this way.”

After 10 years without a high school, youngsters in Radcliffe are set to be educated in the town – with plans for a new academy likely to be approved next week. Members of Bury council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss plans to demolish the town’s current leisure centre and a pupil referral unit to make way for a Star Academy high school.

Radcliffe, which has a population of more than 30,000, has been without a high school since 2014, meaning hundreds of youngsters face a daily commute to other areas of Bury. The planning application proposes to build a two storey temporary school building, which will house the first intake of 150 pupils from September 2024.

The swimming pool, which has already closed, and other leisure facilities currently on the site will be relocated to the new civic hub development in Radcliffe town centre. The planning application, on behalf of applicant Morgan Sindall Construction, is the subject of a report to be put before councillors at next week’s meeting.

It said:

“The application site consists of an area of 1.5 hectares. “The site previously was in use as Radcliffe Riverside High School and some of the school buildings have been retained on site. “These buildings are used to house the Spring Lane Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) School and Radcliffe Leisure Centre.

“There is a ‘above-ground’ swimming pool, which is accommodated within a temporary building adjacent to the Metrolink line and there is a multi-use games area (MUGA) which is in use by the PRU school. “To enable the school to open and enrol its first year of 150 students at the start of the 2024 – 2025 academic year in September 2024, temporary teaching accommodation is required, which would be used while the permanent school is being built.

“It is intended that the temporary school would be utilised for the first two academic terms up to the Easter break in 2025, at which point the first cohort of students would decant across to use the new main school building for the summer term onwards.

“The construction programme for the project, plans for completion of the permanent school building in May 2025, allowing for the temporary accommodation to be removed and the subsequent completion of the school’s outdoor spaces and sports facilities.” The temporary buildings would be built on the footprint of the existing buildings and car park and would have capacity to accommodate 150 pupils.

The ground floor would contain areas for dining, storage, changing rooms for external sports and teaching space. Further teaching space would be provided at first floor, which would be accessed via either a central stair case or lift.

Source: Manchester Evening News

 

 

Children at Barnes Junior School are enjoying new state-of-the-art facilities while maintaining the heritage and tradition of their historic original building, all thanks to £2.5 millionof investment.

With a growing population being housed in a 120-year-old school building, there was an inevitable need for updated facilities.

However, with the building being a Grade II listed, knocking it down to create a new school was simply not an option.

The money, which is part of the City Council’s £45million programme of school updates, has seen the creation of a whole new school building, which is connected to the old school by a glass walkway.

The new building is home to a brand new kitchen, dining hall, classrooms and office space and incorporates solar energy panels to help reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

The whole project was completed in September 2023 and headteacher Simon Ward is delighted with the results.

Headteacher Simon Ward Said:

“The old dining room and kitchen wasn’t such a nice environment but now we have modern high quality facilities which meet the needs of our children. Due to the history of the building, any development was a complicated process and we had to work with the heritage planners.”

Part of the investment has also seen the old school building refurbished and redecorated and Mr Ward is pleased to retain such a historic setting.

Simon continued:

“Because of the historic status of the building, knocking it down to build a new school was never an option. “We are really proud of the history of our school and I’m pleased we could retain the original building. Many of our children’s parents and grandparents also used to attend the school and it’s a big part of the community’s history and heritage.”

Sunderland City Council’s cabinet member for Young People, Learning and Skills, Councillor Linda Williams, said:

“Work at Barnes, which was designed by the council’s capital projects team with support from infrastructure and property services, was always about recognising this historic building and seeing how and where it could be updated for the pupils, the staff and the community.

“It’s part of our on-going £45million investment programme in city schools has included major works at Barnes Infant and Junior schools, new builds at Williow Wood Primary, Sunningdale School, Hetton Primary and large-scale refurbishments are underway at Fulwell Junior School.

“As a City Council we’ve always been completely committed to ensuring we provide the very best opportunities for all our young people and this includes the buildings and the environment they learn in.”

 

Source: Sunderland Echo

Checks of ‘deteriorating’ school buildings yet to start

Government signed off on £2m scheme for assessments at schools with ‘system-built’ classroom blocks last year

Ministers are set to miss their own targets to inspect hundreds of post-war school buildings that ministers rank alongside RAAC as a top safety concern.

The government signed off on a £2 million scheme last year for invasive structural assessments at 200 schools with “system-built” classroom blocks to “better understand” the safety risks.

There are 3,600 of these blocks, quickly built after the second world war, that the government says are “more susceptible to deterioration” and “could lead to a higher risk of hidden structural defects”.

Six have already had to close due to “structural instability”.

The Department for Education aimed to carry out 100 assessments this year, but appears not to have yet appointed specialists to do the work.

Munira Wilson, the education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said ministers should start the visits “urgently and as safely as possible”.

“If they had set themselves these targets and they are way off missing them, what does that say to parents and school staff up and down the country?”

‘Taking longer than expected’

System-build blocks are made from concrete, steel and timber, rather than traditional brick and stone. They were put up between 1940 and 1980 with an initial design life of just 30 to 40 years.

One of DfE’s own “key risks”, as listed in its latest annual report, are buildings constructed post-1945 that “could be subject to defects that increase the risk of collapse”.

Alongside asbestos and reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, it is the third structural issue that the DfE says “may generate safety risks”.

A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) in June found these builds could usually be used beyond their initial design life if they were adequately maintained – although that could be expensive.

The DfE identified more than 13,000 system-built blocks, but had the greatest concerns about 3,600 that used concrete or timber frames.

Two types that could have structural issues have already been identified – Laingspan and Intergrid. However, affected schools have secured new blocks under the latest school rebuilding programme.

‘It has taken a little longer than expected’

In September last year, the department pledged to focus on concrete and timber-framed system-built blocks in 200 schools.

It aimed to look at 100 this year and a further 100 in 2024. However, the NAO said the DfE was yet to procure specialists for the work.

Auditors even urged the department to consider whether its research plan remained “the best approach to provide an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the nature and the scale of the risks associated with the blocks, and therefore how best to mitigate these risks”.

Pressed by MPs in July, Jane Cunliffe, the DfE’s chief operating officer, said the scheme had

“taken a little longer than expected, partly because of the need to manage the asbestos while even doing those invasive surveys”.

She also said a lot of the work might have to be done during school holidays.

Asked whether that meant summer next year, Cunliffe said:

“There are other holidays, so it might be that we could do it in those.”

Last month, Baroness Barran, the academies minister, said the research would be started “later this year”.

When asked for an update last week, the DfE would only say it was “following standard commercial procedures and further updates will be published in due course”.

With just over two months left of the year, it suggests this year’s target will be missed.

‘Redouble efforts’

Source: Schools Week

Plans have been unveiled to alter a 1960s school building in Waterlooville to replace cladding, roof material and fenestration.

By updating the facade at Hart Plain Junior School, Hampshire County Council said it will extend the building’s life, reduce its carbon emissions and improve its thermal performance. The school is one of the 450 SCOLA school buildings built in Hampshire over fourteen years. Many of the components in the SCOLA system were specified to achieve a life of 25 years, but 50 years on, many of the school buildings are still in use.

Now, Hampshire County Council has developed a system of recladding SCOLA buildings by retaining the existing steel frame structure, replacing building components at the end of their useful life, and enhancing the building’s thermal performance and internal comfort and learning environment.

Hart Plain Junior School building was constructed using the ‘SCOLA 2’ system, which comprises a steel frame, single-glazed ‘crittall’ type windows and an uninsulated flat roof. The project aims to extend the life of the existing building through refurbishment, reduce carbon emissions and improve internal comfort by upgrading the fabric of the existing building with an insulated cladding system, insulated roof and double glazing. The additional thermal insulation will improve the thermal performance of the building.

The proposed works at the Junior School will focus on removing the existing single glazing and spandrel panels and reclad the original building with an insulated cladding system and, where replaced, new double-glazed thermally broken windows and doors. As well as reroofing the two-storey and single-storey flat roofs to the areas that will be recladded with additional insulation to reduce heat loss through the roof.

Upgrades on the existing lighting to LED, the introduction of natural ventilation heat and recycling units will also be included. Public consultation will run from October 16 to November 13. If you wish to submit your views, visit Hampshire County Council with the HCC/2023/0567 reference number.

Source: The News Portsmouth

 

Spokesperson: Simon Herod – International Lead

From a global pandemic, to unprecedented inflationary pressures, construction supply change have been dealt their fair share of challenges. However, digital tendering software is here to help, and EstimateOne is leading the way.

With economic uncertainty impacting the industry, construction output is set to decline by 1.3% in 2023[1]. But how can you shift your daily activities to adapt to the changing landscape?

Just from my conversations with estimators, it’s clear the way the industry’s supply chain works isn’t simple at all. Sharing project details and getting quotes can make the supply chain even more confusing.

So, let’s get into the tips and tricks to ensure your supply chain is running like a well-oiled machine…

Know your supply chain

When it comes to your subcontractors, you certainly don’t want to roll the dice. Understanding the intricacies of your supply chain, including who your subbies are and the skills they bring to the table, is part of the job. Establishing a dependable network safeguards against possible disruptions in the future. It’s a given that no one’s network looks like it did pre-pandemic. With the ongoing scarcity of skilled labour, all contractors are looking to expand beyond their go-to pool of subbies.

Digital tendering platforms, like EstimateOne, help you navigate around those pesky construction delays and roadblocks, ultimately making your projects run like clockwork. The mission here is to empower both the main and subcontractors. Automated platforms can advertise job opportunities and extend invitations to potential subcontractors to submit quotes.

Refreshing your network regularly ensures you retain that competitive edge. By casting a wider net, main contractors are essentially building a stronger foundation reducing their reliance on a small group of subbies.

Accept automation

Nowadays, the slightest blip in your supply chain has the potential to cause chaos. Having access to a centralised platform can mitigate the perceived risk.

In the whirlwind world of construction, sticking to old-school manual methods for handling tendering might just trip you up right out of the gate. We’re here to forge connections, and get the job started, not drown in paperwork, right? Putting all your trust in outdated and slow methods could result in using obsolete quotes and missing out on opportunities.

Implementing an automated platform creates an ecosystem where the risk of document disputes is cleverly avoided. Automated addenda management makes the risk of document superseding mistakes practically nil.

With automation, those repetitive tasks you’ve been putting off are done for you, allowing you to focus on fostering key relationships.

Seamless Communication

Communication gaps stand as one of the most pressing vulnerabilities within a supply chain. With fierce competition and margins so thin, the absence of robust channels for effective communication between subcontractors and main contractors can cause a plethora of issues, including delays and budget overruns.

Here, digital platforms emerge as the solution, facilitating a seamless exchange of information, where communication can flow with ease. Almost 50% of contractors and subcontractors claim that real-time stakeholder communication has a significant influence on the project results. Could implementing a new way to communicate mean your project is finished with as little risk as possible?

The construction industry’s supply chains have a significant journey ahead to achieve comprehensive security. However, embracing automation in your tendering process can offer you a much higher level of security, eliminating the uncertainties in this risky business. When both parties do better, subbies win more work, and you have more accurate quotes, it’s as simple as that!

[1] Monthly Statistics of Building Materials and Components May 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Planning application submitted for refurbishment and Passivhaus extension at Edinburgh’s Trinity Academy

A planning application has been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council for the second phase of development at Trinity Academy, a secondary school set within the Victoria Park conservation area in the north of the city.

The project builds upon the award-winning phase one – a new-build sports and outdoor centre that serves the local community as well as Trinity’s pupils – which opened in summer 2022.

Both phases were designed by Holmes Miller, who have a strong track record of designing Edinburgh schools such as Frogston, Canaan Lane and Victoria Primary Schools.

During consultations on the redevelopment, staff, pupils and community felt strongly that the school’s original red sandstone Victorian building on Craighall Road, dating back to 1894, should be retained, refurbished and incorporated into the new design. If plans are approved, several newer existing school buildings which are no longer fit for purpose will be demolished to make way for a new four-storey extension to the historic building, which will offer modern learning facilities for the school’s 1200 pupils.

The school will remain open during the build and refurbishment process, with detailed plans in place for phasing and decanting to temporary accommodation on site, to minimise disruption to staff and pupils.

Inside the new extension, classroom accommodation will be arranged around a social and dining ‘heart’ which will provide a central point where the school can come together to socialise, learn and collaborate, fostering a sense of community and inclusion. A timber-clad ‘learning stair’ will also connect the school’s main reception space to the ‘heart’.  The original Victorian building will link directly to this central space, bringing both buildings together.

Designed to meet Passivhaus standards, the extension will aim to reduce energy demand for space heating or cooling, driving down running costs and carbon emissions. It will also meet the Council’s city-wide aspirations for the curriculum to be inclusive, and to meet all digital and outdoor learning requirements.

A carefully considered landscape plan for the school grounds will maximise potential for outdoor learning, encourage sustainability and open up opportunities to support local groups. Features will include an ‘arrival plaza’ with seating and social spaces, an outdoor amphitheatre, a growing space, an outdoor gym and a wellbeing hub garden.

The landscape design creates the opportunity for connections to Trinity Primary, creating a campus with the secondary school helping integrate both schools. The landscape also incorporates cycle storage and electric vehicle charging in both secure and public areas, encouraging active travel and the 20-Minute Neighbourhood.

Ryan Holmes, Director at Holmes Miller said:

“City of Edinburgh Council asked us to create a design that would ensure Trinity Academy’s facilities were fit for the 21st Century and that would provide an inspirational learning environment for pupils. Alongside the existing Victorian building, the new extension will do just that, while creating a strong civic presence that is sensitive to the surrounding Victoria Park conservation area. The combination of new extension and refurbishment of the existing building represents a significant investment in the community and promotes inclusive growth through key investment.”

John Burns, Associate at Holmes Miller added:

“Building on the successful completion of Trinity Academy’s Sports Campus last year, these new plans offer a modern, exciting, and energy-efficient facility for pupils, staff and the wider community around Trinity. Building on this existing relationship with the school and community through ongoing engagement offers a unique opportunity to create a sense of place and new identity, which is an exciting prospect. All users of the building will benefit greatly from this next phase of redevelopment, which will create a school they can be proud of and will positively engage with.”

Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said:

These are really exciting times for the Trinity Academy school community after the opening of their new sports and outdoor learning centre last year. The plans for the new extension, and refurbishment of the original Victorian red sandstone main school building, have been designed following consultation with the staff, pupils and local community.

“Another key feature of the new extension is the Passivhaus elements which significantly reduce the amount of energy used and support us in our goal of decarbonising our building stock. In August we opened our first fully Passivhaus classroom extension at Sciennes Primary School and construction work has already started on a replacement Currie High School which will be one of the first Passivhaus high schools in the country. These new buildings will significantly reduce heating costs, improve user comfort and the learning environment as we set the standard for how we build low carbon schools.”

 

DLA ANNOUNCES START ON SITE FOR NEXT DEVELOPMENT PHASE AT OAKLANDS COLLEGE

DLA Architecture has announced that works have commenced to deliver the next significant development phase at Oaklands College, St Albans Campus.

Principal contractor, RG Carters is working alongside DLA to deliver a 32,130 sq ft Construction Centre which forms part of an overall £62 million, four-phase masterplan to redevelop the entire Campus, providing a more energy efficient and secure state of the art learning facility.

DLA has previously designed Phase one, The Homestead, which saw the redevelopment of former farm buildings to provide 83 en-suite study bedrooms and a social hub for students. It also delivered phase two comprising a £13.4 million ‘Evolution Centre’ with 49 teaching classrooms and associated facilities.

The new Construction Centre will provide state of the art workshops for teaching construction skills including; electrical installations and testing, plumbing installation and testing, gas assessment, new courses on renewables including ASHP, PV and EV charging and Construction Management.

The project will include a range of teaching classrooms to support the theoretical side of the student’s curriculum with IT rooms and immersive AV teaching as well as versatile study spaces for students to socialise and study between timetabled sessions.

Chris Levett, Director at DLA Architecture, said,

“We are delighted to be able to start construction of The Construction Centre in this phased redevelopment of Oaklands College, due to completed in 2024. The Centre is a critical part of the learning and teaching experience at St Albans Campus and as such our design approach sought to deliver an inviting building that acknowledges the Colleges agricultural history whilst at the same time providing highly modern, flexible spaces.

“The flexible environment will allow future generations of our construction industry to learn important skills including installing and maintaining renewable technologies. Students will be very much involved with the construction process of the building as part of their curriculum to understand modern methods applied in supporting energy conservation and SMART building technology.

“Indeed, the building will be an exemplar for sustainability with a high performing building envelope and low carbon systems. Our designs, using principles of the circular economy, support maximum flexibility for future adaptation with ease of maintenance, for students to benchmark their skillset.”

DLA is retained to design the fourth and final phase of the Masterplan at St Albans Campus with the creation of a college square in front of the gateway building to completed the masterplan and create a focal point for the transformed campus.

DLA Architecture has been established for more than 40 years and employs 91 architectural staff across its offices in London, Leeds, Manchester. Its expertise covers a broad range of sectors including learning, sport, industry, care, workplace, housing, retail, conservation and re-use.

DLA’s experience in the learning and student accommodation sectors is considerable. It recently completed the new Esther Simpson Building, an important gateway site to Leeds University Business School.