Project Brief
The scheme comprises a purpose-built education centre for young adult learners aged 16 to 25 with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). The new one and two-storey building includes specialist facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool and rebound pit. The scheme achieved the equivalent of a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Solution
We delivered full civil and structural works for the scheme, which consisted of a fully braced steel framed building with precast concrete planks for the floors and roof. The walls in the stair core were fixed directly to the stair structure for additional stability against loading and impact. We coordinated the slab joints with the tile joints and the drainage design.
Due to poor ground conditions, the ground was prepared with dynamic compaction before vibro stone columns were used to support the ground-bearing slab. Using our knowledge from working on a neighbouring school construction, we liaised with local water authorities to agree adoption to an existing surface water drainage connection. Surface water from external parking drains to a separate below-ground drainage system and is treated through a Class 1 by-pass separator.
We designed steel and foundation requirements for lift pits and the hydrotherapy pool. The FW drainage strategy specifies the hydrotherapy pool to drain down outside of school hours.
BIM modelling was integral to successfully coordinating information amongst the team, particularly the detailed design e.g. the connections between the steelwork and precast concrete floor slabs. We used Viewpoint to securely share drawings amongst the large design and construction team, as a central depository to issue and answer queries. We also issued the coordinated fabricator models in different formats to suit the recipients and enable full communication amongst the design team.
We also participated in an air tightness workshop to evaluate the required air permeability.
