CHALFONT VALLEY E-ACT PRIMARY ACADEMY

The project included the demolition of part of an existing wing of the building as well an extension off the main building to provide new classrooms. The construction build offered many challenges integrating the new build into the old existing school building.

The works included removal of Asbestos and demolition of an existing wing and the construction of an extension to provide additional classrooms, plus the remodelling works to further classrooms.

Also included was the construction of a link corridor, remodelling of existing toilets and the installation of a modular timber frame building with external works consisting of retaining walls with a cut and fill exercise to create new level pathways.

This project relied heavily on a Value Engineered Design. The works areas required new heating, ventilation, domestic water services and above ground drainage, to enable the new M&E systems to work we had to adapt and extend the existing services.

The challenges integrating the new build in to the old caused additional works being required to existing poorly built bowing walls which required removal. We had to carry out underpinning works, allowing us to prop off the newly supported floor to support the existing roof while the walls were removed and rebuilt to current regulations.

In addition the client requested late additional works to be added into our programme which were sequenced to avoid impacting the programme.

We revised the original M&E service drawings after further investigation works where we discovered alternative more simplistic routes, this meant removing the need to carry out new installation works in a ground floor classroom allowing the school to be in continuous use during our works and offered a cost saving back to the client by removing the tendered refurbishment works for this classroom.

The 2 retaining walls which were in our original scope of works, we value engineered one of the retaining walls by reducing the fill material levels allowing the design of the retaining wall to be reduced down significantly. This solution not only offered back a cost saving to the client but also a faster installation process on what was originally a complicated design within a key programmed area of multiple follow-on trades.

Part of Alcema’s reputation is built on handling unexpected problems. We experienced a significant material shortage due to a severe shortage in roof tiles with manufacturers quoting 30 weeks for delivery to site.  Following alternative roof design options we overcame the issue by finding a reclaimed roof tile stockist based in West Sussex which had ex-stock of the exact matching existing roof tiles. This avoided extending the contract programme of works by approximately 7 weeks.

The project build location within the school grounds created some potential Health and Safety logistical issues due to all our deliveries being required to pass through the only access road within the school, shared with a carparking area for the teachers and a parental/child drop off point.

From previous experience working within live schools we developed a methodology to accommodate the schools needs and provide safe segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. We cordon off the access road and widen pathways to create a separated pedestrian zone for all children and visitors to use, away from our delivery route. We avoided the key school drop off and collection times for any of our deliveries, controlled by a designated Alcema gate person.

A collaborative relationship between Alcema, Buckinghamshire Council and the school thrived based on Alcema’s pragmatic approach to overcoming problems. The project was delivered to budget, on time and to a high standard fully focusing on the schools needs throughout the build.