Site Condition:
The site itself slopes from South to North to site and was used partially as a site compound for adjacent developments.
Initial Site Investigation works required trial holes to search for materials potentially dumped on the site. These works highlighted that rock levels at the Southern part of the site were down to 600mm below the existing ground levels. A Geophysical Survey in conjunction with site trial holes was carried out to indicate rock contours for the site. The proposed school site was to be located at the Southern part of the site.
School Construction:
The school is a 16-classroom national school designed to the Department of Education requirements and specification. The school also has a Special Needs Unit as part of the development. The structure is a two-storey building with loadbearing blockwork walls and precast concrete unit floor decking. The building also required high level of internal fairfaced blockwork and concrete finishes. Sound transference between classrooms was also an issue with blockwork, joints and cavities checked so as to achieve the necessary sound reduction between rooms.
Foundations were typical strip footing on rock. Roof construction was Kingspan insulated panels on steel purlins supported on masonry walls.
The overall site was the main challenge with a steep slope from South to North on the site and a high level of rock. Access to the building and the future school was considered with pathways and ramps required in particular for disabled access. Pupils, Teachers and Parents had to enter and exit safely the site and building. Ground modelling (Revit) of the site was carried out to minimise construction works.
As part of the development, additional roadway and parking was constructed for a second (community) school to be developed later on the site. The local authority also had issues with existing traffic entering and exiting the site. This was countered by one entrance to Enter on the southern boundary and an Exiting route at the western boundary.
CSEA worked as part of the multi-disciplinary design team from initial design stages to project completion. During the construction stage CSEA also worked closely with the main contractor and the Clerk of Works where site variations arose, for example due to the site conditions. We also administrated the Civil/Structural (Part A) element of the building regulations certification (BCAR).
