Refurbishment of 2nd floor Radcliffe building

Overview

This is our first project for the college and the scope includes the strip out and full refurbishment the 2^nd floor Radcliffe building. Often the summer is a period of intense change for most educational establishments, it is no different in Wakefield college, we carefully programmed the project which included major works and several items on long lead in to achieve our target date and ensure students could begin learning at the term start.

Construction details

The building was a typical 60s/70’s concrete frame but it had undergone several refurbishments previously and accurate details and drawings are always difficult to find. We encounter all manner of different construction techniques during the strip out phase and several unknown services were required to be diverted in accordance with the new layout. Our remodelling works included structural alterations, full mechanical and electrical strip out and installation, Asbestos removal, partitions, ceilings lifts, general joinery and finishing trades.

Challenges

Probably access was the greatest challenge or maybe the additional works – the site was on the 2^nd floor of the building and no materials are allowed to enter the building using traditional routes, so our simple solution was to erect an external scaffold loading bay remove a window and take everything up externally.

We were obviously doing something right as the college instructed us to complete works to several other parts of the building all during the same time period including toilet remodelling and external works all within the same timeframe. Our team took it all in their stride and re-worked the programme to accommodate the new works.

Health and Safety

The project was completed without RIDDOR accidents and there were no injuries to report during the entire construction process despite the works being undertaken in a ‘live’ environment in a city centre.