Emergency Classrooms for Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Harlow, Essex

What was the challenge?

After their brand new school building was deemed structurally unsafe, this college in Harlow had just 2 weeks to find an alternative solution before students came back from their summer holiday.

We were given just 3 days to design and cost this project which required 30 classrooms and dining space. After being instructed we arrived on the site just 2 days later to start building and handed over the new facility 14 days later, just in time for the school to reopen for the autumn semester.

What did the client need?

The school required 30 temporary classrooms, a multi-purpose/dining hall facility and staff room to enable them to reopen for their 900 students and faculty. The project required an urgent response from our team to build and deliver the facilities they needed as quickly as possible.

It was hugely important to the college to minimise disruption to their students’ learning as much as they possibly could to avoid another home learning scenario.

What was the main challenge?

The key challenge here was time – the structures needed to be built completely turnkey in just 2 weeks to ensure students could return to their studies.

Quality – ensure quality of acoustics as school buildings have regulations to meet and pass DofE inspection and building control.

We were the principal contractor for this project meaning we had the primary responsibility to manage the site and coordinate the project.

The temporary classroom facilities were built on the schools playing fields – initially the structures didn’t fit on the site and we had to redesign to accommodate the speed of build, fire service demand and school requirements.

Client Testimonial

“The last few weeks were, I admit, a challenge but our pupils, parents, staff and contractors have all risen to it admirably. The new facilities, although temporary, are remarkable and we are able to resume delivering our ambitious curriculum. The contractors have all done an amazing job in a short space of time.”

Dee Conlon, Headteacher at Sir Frederick Gibberd College