Education Portfolio

We pride ourselves on our ability to successfully deliver projects within live environments with minimum disruption. Education is a key sector for both ourselves and our supply chain and our schemes have encompassed traditional design and build, new build, alteration and refurbishment and partnered contracts procured on a traditional, negotiated and open book basis. We are always conscious of the requirements of the end user and sympathetic to the needs of an establishment which has to to continue to function whilst building work continues on site.

The level of repeat clients in this sector is testament to our expertise. To date we have completed over 300 education projects ranging in value from £10k to £3.2m

“Working with Read’s has been an absolute pleasure, I look forward to the days when we can work together again. The Maes Garmon project was my first partnering experience and my first contract with your company. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process. The proactive care and consideration that everyone at Read’s and its supply chain gave to the project was exemplary. There are many good practice techniques that I shall carry with me and share. I appreciate very much, the help and advice that your dedicated team brought to the project. We jelled as a team and I feel that we became friends, not just professional colleagues”.

Mrs Karen Parkinson, Project Architect, Flintshire County Council

St. Anselm's School, Circa £390,000

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 Damien 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 2 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.

Chester Catholic High School, Circa £3.2M

Client: Catholic High School, Chester

Period: 40 weeks

Major new build and refurbishment project to expand the services offered by the school. The project comprised the construction of a new two storey stand alone building to accommodate sixth form provision and a music and drama unit, together with a single storey extension and remodelling of the main entrance, office and admin areas and a single storey extension to the science laboratories.

Multiple phased construction sites within “live” school environment.
Ensuring unhindered functionality of school.
One of the first projects to implement a SWMP.
Integration of internal support roles.
Delivery of all areas as programme to support client requirements.
Undertaking major external works to new builds and main entrance whilst maintaining the schools operation.

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Ysgol Maes Garmon, Mold. Circa £2.4M

Client: Flintshire County Council

Period: 66 weeks

Extensions (300m2 admin and 800m2 design & technology blocks) and refurbishment (300m2 music suite, 700m2 science laboratories and library) of existing secondary school. The project was awarded on a partnering basis with
Partnering guidance delivered by “Constructing Excellence” and “Construct Wales” through supply chain and partnering workshops throughout the contract to deliver “best value” for all partners.

Working within “live” school environment
Delivering Read’s 1st Partnered contract
Complex phasing and sectional completions
Continuous value engineering to derive “best value” for all partners
Implementation of weekly planning exercise (now company procedure)
Early completion of contract—10 weeks early

Sandbach School, Circa £1.2M

Client: Sandbach School

Period: 24 weeks

Construction of new dance & drama studios and three new teaching classrooms. Included within the project was the formation of a new paved and landscaped courtyard to the front of the new buildings. Despite the build being within the schools playing fields, access could only be gained via the schools main entrance. The existing slope to the site necessitated substantial earthworks to enable construction.

Management of the single entrance to site for school and construction
Particularly narrow site entrance with no area for turning
Working within the main circulation area of a live school
Completed on time

Bio Sciences and Environmental Alliance Project , Bangor , Circa £ 250,000

The refurbishment of this 1970 third floor laboratory to a state of the art provision within an exceptionally short time frame was a significant obligation. Access , egress and site logistical challenges added to the demands of this contract. Completed on time for the commencement of the new academic year.

Brynmor Hughes, Chandler KBS stated ” The University has asked me to pass on their appreciation and congratulations at the team’s performance in delivering a high quality product in a relatively short period of time. They are overjoyed with the facilities that they can now offer to their students and research fellows and highly commend all involved“