27 March 2012
Yorkon Completes Challenging Cranage Operation at New Academy in Birmingham
Off-site construction specialist, Yorkon, has completed a challenging cranage project for principal contractor Thomas Vale Construction at Ninestiles School - a new high achieving academy in Birmingham.
The site operation involved the use of a large 350-tonne crane to lift the steel and concrete building modules over the top of an existing building and into a completely enclosed courtyard in the centre of the school. Working closely in partnership with Thomas Vale and the school, the installation was timed to coincide with the half term holiday, minimising any disruption to teaching.
The new scheme was designed by architects and project managers, Ridge & Partners and will provide the school with six new classrooms to help meet the increased demand for places and to replace an outdated facility.
Design features will include brick cladding to the ground floor with a contrasting white finish to the upper floor; windows, doors and aluminium cladding panels in anthracite grey; a full height glazed stairwell, and a link corridor to the main school building.
The building also has a concrete floor throughout, which was pre-installed in the Yorkon factory to further reduce work on site. This is a robust design option, ideal for high traffic areas, that reduces sound transmission.
Commenting on the project, Simon Ambler, Director of Yorkon said, "Off-site construction was chosen by the client team for this project because of the site constraints. The building is located in the centre of a courtyard with very little access for materials and equipment. The off-site approach, however, has allowed the building structure to be prefabricated in a factory environment and craned into position over the existing school, in just a few days. And because of the facility's proximity to the main school, it is also helping to reduce disruption to the school, particularly as there is a major refurbishment programme to other buildings on the site underway at the same time."
He added, "The cranage operation was a complex one, which involved lifting each module over the top of the main school building. However, our site team worked closely with Thomas Vale, the principal contractor, to ensure the installation was carried out safely, efficiently and without any disruption to the school."
With achievements well in excess of national standards, Ninestiles School now has academy status. It is a mixed comprehensive school catering for 1200 pupils with 60 students in the sixth form.
Yorkon has an extensive track record in the primary and secondary education sectors, having completed a wide variety of bespoke modular projects including self-contained teaching buildings, classroom extensions and complete schools, delivering all the speed, quality, sustainability and efficiency benefits of off-site construction.
Yorkon is part of the Portakabin Group.
For further information about Yorkon off-site building solutions for schools and academies, call 0845 2000 123, email contact@yorkon.co.uk or visit www.yorkon.info.
Editor's Notes
The advantages of off-site construction include:
- Programme times reduced by up to 50 per cent for earlier handover and occupation, with a positive impact on education and to help schools and LEAs address place planning issues
- Reduced disruption to teaching with safer, quieter and cleaner construction
- Purpose-designed teaching accommodation that can be located in completely enclosed courtyards or on the roofs of existing school buildings
- Buildings can be easily extended vertically or horizontally and expanded without decanting
- A robust pre-installed concrete floor option for enhanced performance for high traffic areas and reduced sound transmission
- Material wastage reduced by up to 90 per cent
- Up to 90 per cent fewer vehicle movements to site
- Improved quality and reduced future maintenance
- A high level of design flexibility internally and externally
- Improved thermal efficiency for lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions
- Greater assurance of delivery on time and on budget.
