We peek behind the hoarding to find out the latest progress on the extension and renovation works at Cardigan Primary School
While King Charles III may be carrying out neck-strengthening exercises ready for a certain weighty crown to be placed on its latest incumbent, LEB has been putting the final building blocks in place at Cardigan Primary School, ready for our works to be polished and bequeathed to the children of the local community.
We’re entering the home stretch of the extension and renovation works at the school, which are not only providing students and staff with a more spacious and motivating environment, but also uniting the Infant and Junior schools. On completion, the facility will also offer improved usability and accessibility for disabled users, with a lift to the first floor and new disabled WCs.
Since we started on site last summer, we have been providing regular progress reports on the £2.73m 45-week-programme project, which see the school’s floor space increase by 432m2, up to 1,766m2. To read any of the previous four reports, click here: 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Overview to date
Approaching the main entrance of the school, visitors are now greeted by a more spacious and modern Reception that, thanks to the use of vibrant colours on the external cladding, is undeniably more inspiring than before.
Walk through the doors of the main entrance, and the Reception is now larger, with a welcoming oak reception desk. There’s also a new office for the Head Teacher and a Meeting Room, disabled shower, link corridor to the existing school structure and store room. Dark blue feature walls give way to off-white walls with a blue hue, leading you into the main part of the school.
A new 3.5-metre-high corridor has created additional space for a new classroom that has been crafted from the conversion of a former conservatory, with an operational kitchen and new doors that serve as a fire escape. These open onto a newly extended and ramped path. Furthermore, the external elements of the building feature a new smooth-finish cladding comprising black and red panels.
Among a plethora of other smaller works, we’ve completed the construction of a two-storey extension to part of the rear of the school, which features new WCs, the previously mentioned lift and a new stairwell.
Work progress
Having made wonderful progress against the programme across the board, all but two areas have already been handed back to the school for daily use, and our focus is now down to two sections: Area 6, the link building, and Area 7, MEP improvements.
Area 6 – Link building
The link building is progressing well and is set to provide the school with a new Parent Room, Staff Room, Staff Work Area, two Year 3 classrooms, a Library along a wide sweeping corridor, a Nook, new WCs and a photovoltaic array on the new flat roof.
We have now installed the posi-joists that form the structure for the roof and have completed works to get the area watertight. The roof consists of oriented strand boards (OSB), insulation, vapour control layers (VCLs) and an EPDM covering. Rubberbond FleeceBack EPDM, of which LEB Construction is an accredited installer, is a highly durable synthetic rubber. Not only will this accreditation assure the school of the quality of LEB’s installation, but the product also comes with a manufacturer’s 20-year warranty.
New external windows and doors have also been installed to close the box.
Internally, we have commenced the MEP works, with heating pipework being installed along with first-fix electric cabling.
Within the space, timber partitions with timber pattresses are being erected to divide the area into the intended rooms. Once the first-fix MEP and electrics are complete, plasterboard will be installed and skimmed with plaster for a smooth finish.
After the roofing works have reached completion, a specialised team will commence with the installation of the photovoltaic panels. Preparation of the electrical cable routes and circuit boards has already begun.
Area 7 – New heating and disabled toilets
Works have commenced on the new heating system, with a new high-efficiency floor standing boiler being installed in the boiler room. The Remeha Gas 210 Eco Pro boiler has been selected for its reliability and high performance, low emissions and quiet operation. It will future-proof the school for many years to come.
Thermostatic radiator valves are to be fitted to each radiator, and a water cylinder is being installed in the ceiling void above the kitchen.
Some additional works have been instructed and include the installation of a sump pump in the basement boiler room.
Site visits
We were delighted to welcome representatives from the Considerate Constructors Scheme to site, a scheme we are proud to sign up to and take part in. The not-for-profit organisation undertakes a review of sites against its code of conduct, which covers ‘Respect the Community’, ‘Care of the Environment’ and ‘Value the Workforce’. With a mandatory pass mark of 27 points, we were awarded a high score of 42 out of 45.
Our monthly progress meetings have continued, allowing us to show the client our continuing progress on this project.
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