Project Title: New Classrooms and Therapy Suite
Project Type: New Build Extension & Internal Alterations
Location: Wellesley Park Primary School, Wellington, Somerset
Employer/Client: Somerset County Council
Sector: Education
Procurement Method: Traditional Drawings and Bills of Quantities
Contract Sum: £750,000 to £800,000
Role: Quantity Surveyor
Customer Satisfaction Score: 95%
Description of Project
The concept behind the project was to provide Wellesley Park Primary School with a modern extension to help promote positive learning. The design and construction team who signed up to this concept were appointed from the South West with Slade Parry Limited being appointed as the Quantity Surveyors.
The project was split into two sections enabling the school to function fully throughout the construction period.
Section One of the project was to construct the new extension comprising 524m² the floor area was split into two levels with 152m² of storage area under the 372m² teaching space. The teaching space is then split into three classrooms, new replacement staff room, ancillary stores, cloakrooms and wcs.
Section Two of the project evolved the remodeling of the existing staffroom to form a therapy suite.
Section One – The extension has been constructed using a steel portal frame which sits on trench fill and pit foundations. The classroom floors are a mixture of beam and block and plank flooring thus providing the undercroft space below. The external walls are masonry in construction with a facing brick outer leaf. Windows and external doors were powder coated aluminium double glazed units with opening apertures. The roof is formed using timber framed infill sections and timber and galvanised steel decking which then received board insulation, vapour barrier and single ply GRP covering. The building incorporated electrical installations including telephone and computer wiring plus mechanical installations including heating and ventilation.
The rooms were finished with grid fixed suspended ceilings, plastered and painted walls and carpeted floors. The corridor which runs through the building was constructed with the additional of 27 nr. roof lights to provide a natural lit area.
The classrooms and staff room were fitted out with a kitchenette area for pupils and staff use together with work benches and the like.
As the extension was constructed on a sloping section of the school campus an external veranda was included with the external works, this is accessed via the staff room and one of the classrooms.
Section Two – The remodeling of the existing staff room took place following the handing over of the new staff room. This area was stripped out and a new wet room therapy suite was installed.
Consultant Services Provided
The Pre-Contract Services carried out on this project included a review of the client’s original budget, preparation of the Bills of Quantities for inclusion with the tender documents, plus the checking, reporting and negotiation based on the tenders received. A full detailed Building Cost Information Services form of cost analysis was also produced.
The Post-Contract Services included the continual cost monitoring of the project, including attendance at monthly financial review meetings with our Client. The agreement and certification of monthly valuations included reviews of the M & E installations. We were regularly called upon to discuss and deal with a number of contractual matters. Finally we carried out the preparation and agreement of the Final Account
Surveyor’s Comments
This was an interesting project and it was good to continue using the skills necessary to prepare a Bills of Quantities and to continually monitor the project financially.
Client’s Comments
A very successful project which despite a few difficulties and last minute changes finished early, under budget and the final account has already been agreed (before the end of defects – unheard of!). Kind words care of Mrs Sally Walton – South West One Architect.
Since Completion
Since completion the project has picked up the award for Winner of the West Somerset LABC Building Excellence Awards 2011 for Best Educational Building.