Challenge:

Malet Lambert School and Hull City Council aimed to incorporate the original characteristics of the existing listed school building with a new, state of the art facility. The project design needed to create better pupil flow around the school, replacing and collaborating a series of out buildings to create a seamless link from old to new. The project also included the development of a rear extension sympathetic to the surroundings.

Development:

Sewell hosted weekly engagement meetings with the school and the local authority to explore the detail within the outline business case and develop a functional, deliverable design solution, taking the scheme to financial close.

The team gained an in-depth understanding of pupil flow and timetables to effectively manage the logistical challenges of an operational site with 2,000 users.

Prior to construction, we met with subcontractors to reinforce the high quality expectations set out within the tender package.

To achieve excellence from the supply chain, we also planned to induct every operative onto site, carry out quality spot checks and site inspections throughout the works and hold ‘tool box talks’ with the site teams.

A close working relationship with the school ensured exams could be held during the construction period, with the school able to boast an improved Ofsted report for the academic year. We excelled the partnership further, with employability classes planned and more than 300 pupils passing through the Sewell Skills Academy. School leavers were offered apprenticeships with the company, leaving more than simply a legacy of construction at Malet Lambert.

Sewell held multiple engagement events with pupils and the local community throughout the programme, including a Christmas light switch on, time capsule burial, Skills Academy sessions and curriculum activities.

Delivery:

The project included multiple area remodels and a new two storey building connected by a central covered courtyard.

We incorporated systems and materials into the design to reduce ongoing operating costs, including an ETFE roof in the courtyard to provide natural light, and humidity controlled ventilation. We also used the same finishes throughout both new and refurbished buildings to ensure a consistent, manageable lifecycle regime.

A dedicated site entrance was created to separate the school and construction traffic. A footbridge running above the construction site was also created to enable pupils to move safely around the campus.

We also built bird and bat boxes that were sympathetic to nesting seasons to place on site and transported pond wildlife into temporary homes during the works.

Results:

Malet Lambert School’s complex remodelling and new development was delivered on time and on budget, and maintained the original 1930′s feel of the facility while incorporating modern technology and state of the art features. The school retained its formal frontage, with connection through a covered courtyard to a new two storey building across the rear of the site. The school has significant levels of community use and the development includes theatre space, drama and dance studios, fitness suites, a sports hall and a floodlit all weather pitch. A total of 123 local contractors worked on the site, alongside 24 apprentices.