Twynham School
Requirement
Twynham School’s mission statement is to be “ambitious” for all its students. The co-educational college offers its pupils not only traditional academic courses, but a wide range of vocational training options, and has achieved Leading Edge, Training School and Music College status.
In order to expand their reach and better serve their aspiring students, Twynham School required an extension to add extra classroom space. Due to access difficulties, a traditional build was out of the question, Dorset County Council then further engaged with Wernick Buildings to provide a modular solution.
Wernick liaised with Dorset County Council architects to modularise the original designs for the building. The 2 storey extension was made of 20 modular units, with a special module added to allow for an entrance hall and staircase. This extra module featured curtain walling, which had to be measured up exactly to allow the two levels to fit together perfectly.
The project took 18 weeks from beginning to completion, with the building constructed at Wernick’s main manufacturing site in Kenfig, South Wales over just 10 weeks. Over the remaining 8 weeks the school was installed and fitted out on site.
Access issues prohibited cranes from getting to the construction site, so each unit had to be lifted over the existing school buildings to be installed. If that wasn’t testing enough, the crane operator had to achieve this without a view of his destination as this was a complete blind lifting operation. Careful planning and the use of radio communication meant the installation occurred without a problem. The buildings were lifted early in the morning during half term so no one in the school or the surrounding area would be disturbed or disrupted during this process.
Site Manager Joe McLaughlin told us; “It requires a lot of organisation and planning to carry out a blind lift. We’re really pleased that it went without a hitch and without disruption to the school or the local community.”
Once fully installed the building was finished off externally to a high standard; offering render and a brick skirt to the ground floor, whilst the first floor received a sustainable Thermowood cladding. The internal finish was fully decorated along with suspended ceilings and enhanced floor loadings complimented with durable carpet tiles.
It requires a lot of organisation and planning to carry out a blind lift. We’re really pleased that it went without a hitch and without disruption to the school or the local community.
