London & South East

Peter Symonds College expands

Peter Symonds Science Centre, Winchester

Peter Symonds College in Winchester has expanded its science facilities during a four month extension project.

Construction Management and Consulting Professionals Gentle Consulting Ltd oversaw the works schedule and on site progress.

Premier Construction caught up with Colin Bates, Senior Construction Manager, from Gentle Consulting Ltd to find out more about the project. Peter Symonds College directly employed a set of package contractors to undertake different aspects of the construction project. It was Colin’s role to manage the contractors on site and oversee the project.

Works began in May 2013 and was completed by September ready for the new term. The extension to the science centre spans two storeys and contains four laboratories with associated prep rooms. The 435 sqmetre lab space was required due to student numbers continuing to increase causing the college to outgrown their current premises.

Peter Symonds Science Centre, Winchester

The construction of the extension is timber frame modular units on pad foundations, and clad with traditional brickwork and cedar timber. The units were manufactured off site to allow for prefabrication on site and speed up the build time.

The science centre extension project is one of several schemes in a larger plan to expand teaching facilities across the whole campus. Gentle Consulting Ltd have been part of previous expansion projects including undertaking the erection of a new sports pavilion and teaching facility, constructing a new classroom block, and upgraded the campus’ existing building stock. They were asked to oversee this particular project as preferred consultants due to their track record of previous work with the college.

Some local landscaping occurred during the project including tree felling to clear way for the extension. Following the completion of the project compensatory tree planting took place.

Peter Symonds Science Centre, Winchester

Most of the disruptive work was programmed for during the college’s six week summer holidays in order to ensure that teaching time was not excessively interrupted. The modular units were built off site and this also decreased disruption, as did taking possession of the site early to undertake groundwork’s during exam timetables. Colin said the project was challenging but ran without any major hiccups.

Colin added:

“The new extension space will offer an airy, spacious, fit for purpose venue for students. We are proud of our long association and relationship with Peter Symonds College and hope that it will continue.”

Winchester based architects TKL were the project architects for the works. They offer a complete range of architectural services including interior design, masterplanning, feasibility studies, space planning and visualisation.

Gentle Consulting has provided a suite of integrated construction consultancy services to clients and contractors for over 20 years. With a team of highly experienced management and consulting professionals they have a proven track record of delivering successful construction projects.

Peter Symonds Science Centre, Winchester

They offer project management resources and construction management services, as well as professional cost consultancy role; helping clients take responsibility for achieving their objectives of the project, delivering it on time and within budget.

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