A £530,000 contract to construct and fit out an all-new extension to a primary school in Lanarkshire has been completed by Procast.
The company’s team, together with Cleland Primary Head Teacher Jan Barclay and Principal Teacher Lorna Telfer, got together for a socially distanced photoshoot to mark the occasion.
The extensive makeover, which had been due to begin in March 2020 but was put back to August 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, presented significant challenges because a large proportion of the work took place during term time.
Furthermore, the only access to the footprint of the extension was through a communal entrance shared with staff, visitors and children.
As a result the management of downtakings and the scheduling of various works and deliveries had to be sensitively co-ordinated.
However, Procast drew on their considerable expertise of delivering projects in high-footfall and public areas where the day-to-day needs of the client have to be taken into account.
The extension project comprised:
• Demolition of the existing annexe building together with downtakings
• A new dining area
• New kitchen facilities
• New classroom and general-purpose room
• Toilet facilities
• Hard landscaping
Some of the features of the contract included powder-coated aluminium curtain walling with integrated doors and windows and standing seam metal cladding.
A Procast spokesman said: “Works that were due to commence in March 2020 finally got under way in August 2020 post-COVID-19 lockdown, so the world in which we were operating had changed.
“As a result, we had to ensure our work environment was a COVID-secure environment.
“On site, the challenges included the management of resources to ensure social distancing and ensuring a robust cleaning regime. Other challenges related to longer lead in times for materials due to demand and availability.
“We adopted many measures that reduced disruption to the school and wider local community, which was very successful.
“Another great challenge of this project was the segregation of works and construction vehicles which again was managed successfully.
“We had a great collaborative and transparent working relationship with the head teacher and her staff.
“Aesthetically, we are absolutely delighted with how the project has turned out and the staff are very excited to move into their new annexe.
“The new facilities will be a great addition to the school and local community.”
The Procast team members who made the handover to Jan (second left) and Lorna were (from left) Contracts Manager Kevin Kozicki, Site Supervisor Sam Galloway, Trainee Quantity Surveyor Logan Rock, labourer Daniel Kirkwood and Project Manager Hugh Parker.
The project was similar to the one recently completed by Procast for the same client – North Lanarkshire Council – at Whitelees Primary in Cumbernauld.
See the case study.
