Innovative | Sustainable | CollaborativeOptimised Construction Solutions
Project name: St. Anselms College Food Hub
Location: Birkenhead Merseyside
Contract: JCT Intermediate
Value: £395,000
Duration: 22 Weeks
Summary:
The new Food Hub was constructed as a self contained food technology block set within the grounds of St Anselm’s College. Read demonstrated total dilligence and ability in the delivering the project with Zero harm.
AWARD WINNING – The sustainable design, supported by effective quality control and high quality finish of all trades facilitated the award of first place in the under £1m category of the Built Environment Award, in the Northwest Business Environment Awards.
VALUE – Over budget at tender stage, Read worked with the client and design teams to identify salient cost savings that facilitated the delivery of the project to budget whilst maintaining the architectural design intent.
SUSTAINABLE – Sustainability was embedded throughout the design, with special eco features including sunlight optimisation, lightweight block work, high insulation, natural stack ventilation, orientated teaching spaces for maximum passive Ventilation, green roof and planting space around the block for pupils to grow food with zero food miles!
The construction of the new build food hub at St Anselm’s college has been deemed a great success on many levels. This was in large part due to the outlook of all of the design team and construction team involved in the project.
The design comprises of a series of interlocking volumes which make up a contemporary architectural form and although the building is generated from some traditional constructional materials and techniques, the building is very detailed. The delivery of a high standard of finishes in the details was imperative to generating a stunning building and this is a testament to all involved.
At tender stage a number of cost saving proposals were needed to deliver the building within its tight budget and Read’s QS team of Damian Bryan and Wil Jones alongside the design team were instrumental in generating ‘silent’ cost savings to deliver practical cost savings with little or no impact on the architectural integrity of the scheme.
The site was a difficult site to work as it was in close proximity of the school playground, teaching spaces and examination spaces. The site team headed by Matt Nicholas was flexible and considerate in delivering the scheme under some very difficult weather conditions and limited construction timescales. This led to a good working relationship between the client, contractor and design team.
Read were open to staff and students being involved throughout the construction of the building to deliver this exciting scheme and as such the building is now embraced by students and staff alike.
The building has already been shortlisted for two architectural awards and has featured in a number of press articles. This is in part due to the design of the building, but would not have been possible without the meticulous approach to details that Matt showed throughout the project to deliver an aspirational building for the school. The building is now being used as a ‘benchmark’ building within Wirral MDC and tours have been arranged for other departments and schools looking to deliver projects of a similar size and budget.
Take a look at the work we do.
It has been real privilege and a pleasure to work with Read on the construction of our Food Hub building. From the minute the tender was completed Read Construction have been exemplary in every way running a safe, well ordered site within the College campus and working around the busy schedules of a school day. The site manager (Matt Nicholas) was simply outstanding in liaising with the wide range of sub contractors and ensuring that the design and vision of an new innovative, high spec building became a reality for us. I expect to be working with Read Construction again in the future.