Challenge

Our Newcastle office has recently completed the external envelope refurbishment of a 1960’s CLASP type academic building for a long-term client in County Durham. Following a successful application for capital funding via the Condition Improvement Fund, our Building and Project Consultancy team were tasked with undertaking a comprehensive and detailed design for the replacement of dilapidated concrete cladding panels and replacing these with a new built-up SFS cladding system which would not only transform the aesthetic appearance of the school, but improve the thermal performance of the buildings envelope.

Solution

Adam Finch, Director for the North East office said ‘This is a project which I consider to be fairly unusual in that there aren’t many CLASP type structures that I am aware of which have had their entire envelope removed, and replaced with a new built up system which vastly improves not only the visual appearance of the school, but more importantly, improved the thermal performance of the buildings. There has been plenty of technical details to consider, as well as working around and managing known asbestos in order to keep construction costs down. However, through proactive collaboration with all of the project team, this completed project has allowed the school to address a number of seriously dilapidated buildings and take a big step forward towards reducing their carbon emission as a multi academy trust, which is fundamental to their Good Estate Management and Decarbonisation Plan’

Results

Gillian Pigott, Director of Finance and Development for the trust is delighted with the outcome. ‘We have used Eddisons for many years and we are never disappointed with their proactive approach to capital works, but this is my favourite project to have been involved with to date. The school buildings were in desperate need of capital funding to replace defective cladding panels and the insulation was near to non-existent, which made the internal temperature of classrooms particularly first thing on a morning during winter months. The classrooms are now a lot warmer and comfortable in which to work and learn. We are retaining more heat which has allowed us to reduce the amount of time the heating is on across the school which I am hoping will save on our utility costs ! We would never have qualified for a new build, but this looks and feels like a new build for a fraction of the cost. We are all delighted with the outcome’

Eddisons appointed Riss Ltd as Principal Contractor for the project.

If you have old, dilapidated academic CLASP type buildings and are interested in a similar project, please contact Adam Finch at adam.finch@eddisons.com