Progress

This last week quite a bit of progress has been made with the new opening for the stairs in, new block work wall staring to go up and various other smaller jobs that need to be done.

This is the last post until the new year, as work stops later today for Christmas.

New opening for stairwell

New blockwork wall going up

New observation window opening going in

Mezzanine

The main steelwork to support the mezzanine floor are now in place, flooring joists will be fitted into these shortly.

Two heavy duty RSJ beams

The stud wall at the end of C2 has been removed and will be replaced with a block work one

The concrete floor has been dug up ready for the steel and concrete to act as new foundation to support the steelwork for the large wall opening in the new canteen area as detailed in previous blog.

More Steel

On removing the large gable end wall to create the canteen area it exposed the wall footings which were not of the size the structural engineer had expected. This has made him recalculate the amount of steel that is needed for the footings to support the opening. "Lots of steel and concrete"

See Detail below

Asbestos all Gone

Last week the Asbestos removal team removed all the troublesome asbestos. This has delayed things a little but all back to normal now. The second of the 2 main mezzanine support beams will be going in at 10 o'clock today, the floor in the main canteen area can be dug out ready to accept the big steel wall supports. "Things should start to speed up a bit now".

All work stopped

Rilmac the Asbestos management company, arrived on site today to set up for the asbestos removal. It became apparent due the location of suspected asbestos and the confirmed asbestos removal, that no other works will be conducted until it has been removed. All site personnel have left the project until Monday morning, leaving Rilmac to get on with the asbestos removal. This involves erecting contamination chambers and is quite involved and highly regulated.

Other information:
Deadlines for ordering steelwork to support the wall that has been removed are extremely tight, If they can't be ordered next week there will be a knock on effect due to the christmas closedown period. It is imperative the structural engineer can amending his design to incorporate concrete in the floor as opposed to steel, this will enable orders to be placed and deadlines hit.

Wall Out

The final few bricks from the wall have been removed, just leaves the floor to be dug up and steelwork put in.

The first piece of steelwork for the Mezzanine is now in and the second will follow shortly.

"Another brick Not in the wall"

The big dividing wall is coming down, by the end of the day it should be down. I will post a picture as soon as it is down.

Internally a number of doorways are being bricked up, all looking a bit strange at the moment but things will start to take shape over the coming week.

The steelwork for the Mezzanine will be going in on Friday morning. watch the post for the latest pics.

Preperation

Some of the steelwork has arrived for the Mezzanine, Preparations for the removal of the main wall in the canteen block are nearing completion, this involved some "heavy duty" steel struts specifically engineered to take the huge loads whilst the new steelwork is being installed.

Steel Supports

"Get Digging"

All this rubble has to go somewhere...

 

Digger Video

"Breaking News...."

Asbestos  has been discovered in underfloor heating ducts!

 

Although a pre-construction/demolition type3 Asbestos survey was carried out, this was not picked up due to it's location, under the floor. Now exposed and identified, it has been quarantined and will need removal by specialists.  This will cause some delay to works.

"All Gone"

The ceiling over the old Mac suite has now been removed completely.

"Things Get Moving"

This week has been a lot about "Out with the Old", removing ceilings, insulation, heating systems etc.  There have been many contractors on site familiarising themselves with the role they will play in the overall project. Things will start to settle down over the coming weeks, a working schedule will be drawn up and deadlines set for individual element completion.

Below are a couple of pictures showing a new opening and the demolition of the ceiling in the old Mac suite.

New doorway

Ceiling coming down

It All starts Now

The fences are up the workmen on site and work can begin.

Initially there will be a lot of stripping out and site clearance so not much to report on. I will post new pictures as we go.

Plans

For those of you who are interested in seeing the plans I have included them below.
The items in the rooms and the names of rooms are only for drawing purposes, ie. seating in study areas.

We will be having glass balustrades on the end of the mezzanine and think it would be a good idea to engage student to come up with designs to be etched on the glass, like the ones at the Library steps.

I will be contacting the relevant individuals to see if we can get this moved forward.

 

 

" In the Beginning"

Main Building

 

 Entrance

 Old C1 Classroom

 

Old C2 Classroom

Changes Overview

The New 6th Form will include the following.

1.  Open Plan common room with Tuck shop and Vending facilities.


2.  New Mezzanine floor to provide 1st floor study areas. 


3.  Renovated ground floor areas.


4.  New entrance lobby with automated access controlled doors.


5.  Introduction of a Disabled toilet.


6.  New Office spaces and Director of 6th form office.


7.  Reconfigured circulation areas and fire exits.


8.  CCTV and monitors throughout.