Synergy News & Blog: News
Synergy provide long term solution for St Albert the Great Catholic Primary School
St. Albert the Great Catholic Primary School, in the Bennetts End area of Hemel Hempstead, was located on a site with problematic ground conditions causing subsidence to the buildings and putting the playing fields out of action for a great deal of the time.
Synergy Construction and Property Consultants worked in conjunction with the Diocese of Westminster and the governors of the school to obtain funding for remedial works to the buildings. However, the team proactively decided to review other available options for this site to provide the best long-term solution, since the existing accommodation on the site was very old. It was apparent there were three options on the table, repair of the existing buildings, relocation to a new site or rebuild of the school on the existing site.
Synergy subsequently instigated extensive investigation of the ground conditions and working with structural engineers put forward their recommended solution to carry out ground stabilisation works and to rebuild the school on site, completed over two phases. The proposed solution avoided the problems associated with relocation to a new site and also eliminated onerous long-term maintenance costs related to reuse and retention of the existing inefficient buildings. The proposal to phase the works allowed the school to remain in occupation in the existing building whilst the new building works were being carried out on the adjacent playing field, which avoided the requirement for temporary accommodation and eradicated expensive decanting costs.
Phase one is now complete and the thrilling new facilities includes new teaching facilities as well as an outdoor classroom and pond, the second phase will involve demolition of the existing buildings and installation of a MUGA, a new football pitch and a 60 metre running track, together with a new car park and fencing.
The new building has prompted some lovely comments from the parents of the school, with a selection noted below:
“I was so impressed with the layout of the school, each classroom and its colour. Everything has been planned with such detail, looks a wonderful school. My children have said each day ‘I love my school’, well done to everyone involved.”
“Wonderful, enchanting environment. I wish I was back at school!!”
“I was exceptionally impressed with the new accommodation! I feel very lucky that my three girls have such a lovely environment to learn in. Everything has been so well thought about and the attention to detail is brilliant!”
