Refurbishment and Extension project
Image Creation were nominated to undertake the Armstrong Refurbishment and Extension project.
It was an 18-month project that Image Creation managed to deliver in 13 months despite a pandemic and restriction on deliveries.
Project Value: £6.5m
Harrow on the Hill project overview
The project included a complete interior strip out of the existing building some 4000 sq m of floor space.
External Works:
Scaffold the entire envelope.
Replace 50% of roof covering with a thermal upgrade and zinc roof along with the whole elevation on the same side, complete with a rain screen solution.
The gable end was finished in trespa and the remaining elevation was insulated and finished in a Baumit coloured render.
All windows were replaced as part of the thermal upgrade.
A semi-circular extension of 400 sq m was then completed with a glazed curtain walling system, revolving doors, poly roof fibreglass insulated roof.
As part of the BREEAM excellent achievement in this project, a full Mitsubishi electric heat recovery system was used in conjunction with a Monodraught tempered fresh air solution to ensure the internal refit into IT rooms allowed an excellent learning environment.
A new BMS trend system was installed in order that the entire building could be controlled remotely.
The integration of our in-house teams meant that we were able to accelerate programs to ensure delivery.
Internally IC installed all new fire doors and fire-rated partitions throughout installed by our BMTRADA certified technicians.
Our electrical and data teams installed led lighting, dado trunking, PIR controls, power, fibre and data to create 11 designated IT rooms and 13 classrooms with 2 server rooms and 3 staff rooms over floors 1 and 2.
The fabric finishes included all suspended ceilings throughout with ecophon acoustic tiles, forbo flotex flooring for a resilient but stylish finish to walkways and classrooms.
The ground floor included creating a new commercial kitchen, a funky canteen environment, new glazed offices, a circular corian reception desk, a new admin block, access turnstiles with everything from ceilings, walls, doors, steps, DDA lifts, passenger lifts in between.
The result was a complete transformation of the focus of the campus and a very pleased client.
The project achieved completion 5 months early meaning the client could redistribute saved prelims budget on tangible improvements.
As the majority of the trades were in-house or through long-standing relationships it meant there were no delays in delivery. Our proactive procurement team ensured all products were secured early to avoid the supply chain issues caused during the first lockdown.
Our sensible approach meant we split our teams into days and nights and kept separated throughout meaning the project actually accelerated rather than slowed.
Externally Image Creation installed a new service road as well as 2 new car parks along with providing all the necessary attenuation to comply with the planning requirements, along with 20 electric car charging points, new street lighting, illuminated signage and landscaping.
This project has uplifted a dated run-down building and provided the college with top of the range teaching facilities with efficient building solutions.
