BSF News

“We are confident that the new build will be substantially complete with only testing, commissioning and minor works outstanding by June 2011.”

John England – Carillion Project Manager

What’s been going on

Work to complete the tarmac access strip around the building perimeter has continued. By the second week in June this should be complete ready to allow us to start on the paved circular play area outside the external dining, i.e where you can see all the skips and materials stored in photograph 1.

The project team wish all those sitting GCSE examinations our very best for your success over the next 7 weeks. We having been working closely with the College to ensure that we plan our works around the examinations and we have strict procedures in place to stop any potentially noisy activities during the exams.

Here are a couple of photographs giving a birdseye view of the new building.

What’s been going on

Work should start next week to the cladding to the roof top plant rooms.

What’s been going on

Render has now been applied to all external walls, with just the final coloured coats left to complete, all the manually operated external doors have been fitted and the powered doors are due to be installed in April.

What’s been going on

Final earthworks continue to the play area to the North of section 1.

What’s been going on

The final coat of coloured render is now being applied around the building and the final appearance is becoming clear. Around the existing sports hall the high level curtain walling and the permanent staircase to the roof is being completed. The insulated panels that you can see between the glazed panels in the photograph below have been placed to temporarily fill in the gaps where opening lights will be installed to provide additional ventilation to the central atrium area and allow smoke to be cleared in the event of a fire.

What’s been going on

Although there has been little let up in the wintery conditions we have been making progress inside the building and, in the few days when temperatures were more reasonable, we have progressed the glass to the curtain walls, lifted all the roof top air handling plant into position and placed concrete to the foundations for the Energy centre.

What’s been going on

It’s been a bleak week on the outside of the building as winter has started to take hold. As a general rule all products which contain liquid water when applied such as mortar, plaster and concrete can not be placed where the temperature is not above 30C as there is the risk that ice crystals can form in the finished product which affect the long term strength/resilience. The recent spell of cold weather has meant that we could not continue with the cementitious render to the outside of the building and placing concrete to foundations for the Energy centre and external staircase to the Sports Hall roof. Inside the building we have been able to close off rooms and provide temporary heating to allow us to progress plaster skim to walls.

What’s been going on

Other than the coloured final coat of render to the external walls, the unglazed sections of the walls are now nearing completion. The last sections of cladding and insulation are being installed as are the windows.