Schools and Colleges

A school or college renovation has an unmovable deadline: the day classes start. A project that overruns means lessons in the wrong rooms, parents asking questions and staff under pressure. We plan school work backward from that date, so classrooms, laboratories, offices and halls are ready when pupils return.

What schools and colleges usually need

Planning backward from the first day

A good school project follows a clear sequence.

1. Early planning (two to three months before the break). Walk the campus with the principal, administrator or trustee, list every room, mark what must be done before the session and what can wait.
2. Decisions and approvals. Choose materials and finishes, approve drawings and agree the budget, so that orders can be placed.
3. Ordering. Long-lead items such as glass, special boards and doors are ordered first.
4. Written programme. A day-by-day or week-by-week plan, by block or floor, with a finish date and a buffer.
5. Mobilisation. Materials delivered and stored, crews briefed, work areas fenced.
6. Work in sequence. Civil work, services, partitions and ceilings, flooring, painting, then fittings.
7. Inspection. Each block is inspected as it finishes; snags are closed before the next.
8. Handover and cleaning. The campus is cleaned thoroughly before pupils arrive.
9. Aftercare. A contact for defects, and an option for a maintenance plan.

Our checklist for renovating a school before the new session gives a longer list of questions to settle early.

Design points for education buildings

• Durability. Floors, walls and fittings take heavy use. Choose finishes that clean easily and resist knocks.
• Safety. Use safety glass where children can reach it, protect corners, keep exits clear and avoid trip hazards at thresholds. See choosing glass for office glazing for glass choices.
• Acoustics. Classrooms, libraries and halls benefit from acoustic ceiling tiles or boards and sealed partitions.
• Light and glare. Blinds and glass choices reduce glare on boards and screens.
• Heat. Many schools are hot in summer. Shading, glazing choices and good ventilation help comfort.
• Flexibility. Partitions that can be moved allow rooms to change with the timetable.
• Cleanability. Washable floors and walls keep upkeep costs under control.
• Accessibility. Ramps, door widths and floor transitions should work for all pupils and staff.

Working on a campus

• Work areas are fenced and signposted, and workers stay inside them.
• Materials are stored in agreed locations away from play areas.
• Noisy work is scheduled when classes or exams are not in progress.
• Workers follow campus rules for entry, behaviour and identification.
• A supervisor is on site daily, and a named contact is available to the school.
• We clean daily and do a final thorough clean before handover.

Budget

School budgets are usually fixed. We write the scope item by item with materials and quantities, so that you can see where the money goes and decide what to prioritise. If the budget is tight, we suggest phasing: essential safety and comfort work first, appearance upgrades next.

Keeping it in good order

Classrooms and corridors age quickly. A maintenance plan with a pre-session inspection each year keeps doors, windows, ceilings and floors in working order and avoids emergency repairs in term.

Planning work for the next break? Talk to us early about your campus.