Robert Clack School

Project Name:

Robert Clack School

Site:

Lymington Fields

Address:

Dagenham, Essex

Client:

Barking and Dagenham LBC

Architects:

Bond Bryan

Contractor:

Mid Group

Project Budget:

£35m

Size:

15,000m2

The Robert Clack School is a large existing school in Dagenham. In order to provide education for the growing number of pupils in Barking and Dagenham – in conjunction with the new Lymington Fields residential development – the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) proposed to extend this site.

The development of the site – by Bond Bryan and Bond Bryan Landscape in collaboration with Mid Group – was divided into 2 phases: the first being the creation of 2 new teaching blocks on the existing site ( +/- 4,300sqm) with phase 2 being the creation of a new all- through school (Lymington Fields) on an adjacent site.

The Lymington Fields School site complements the adjacent housing scheme and forms part of LBBD’s regeneration plan for the area. This school is designed to accommodate 45 nursery pupils, 630 primary school pupils (3-form entry) and 900 secondary school (6-form entry) pupils. The Robert Clack School campus now forms the largest secondary school in Europe (16 FE).

The school site is flanked to the west by a new public square developed by the housing developer, a new carriageway to the north and existing retail buildings lie to the east. To the south are existing 2-storey dwellings whose rear gardens abut the school’s southern boundary. The southeast corner of the site links to the Robert Clack Secondary School (Lower Site) via sports pitches. The Lymington Fields School is part of the Robert Clack entity and the above-mentioned sports pitches will be shared between the two schools.

Lymington Fields School compliments adjacent housing scheme and LBBD’s regeneration plan

School required to accommodate:

• 45 nursery pupils,
• 630 primary school pupils (three-form entry) 
• 900 secondary school (six-form entry) pupils.

16FE will form Europe's largest secondary school

With tenders falling around + £12m above original £35m budget a 6-month review with designers, contractor, and the supply chain was carried out.

Through a collaborative approach the work realised a tremendous 12 month programme saving.

The impact of this was to reduce the tendered figures from £47m down to £36m allowing the scheme to proceed.

     How? Adoption of Intelligent Design/Offsite Approach:

• Original Prelims c.17% of £47m
• Revised Prelims c.10% of £35m
• Saving in Prelims c.£4.5m

            i.e.: reductions in site of staff and plant, reduction in the number of people on site, further reducing the

            temporary accommodation costs, for example.

3 different offsite solutions were incorporated and delivered concurrently achieving a massive programme reduction

Primary School

Ø Innovaré Offsite Timber Panelised SIP Full Structural Superstructure.

Secondary school

Ø Precast and cast in situ concrete frame, with Innovaré Offsite Timber Panelised SIP wrap system to external walls and envelope.

Sports Hall

Ø Traditional steel frame wrapped using a mix of Insulated Cladding + Panelised Brick Slips.

Ensured best cost & time efficient solution

Ensured site became watertight in 1/3 of the time v tradition estimates.

Key Points

• Design as offsite/ Panelised SIP solution from the outset.

• Spans
• Fenestrations
• General arrangement

• Having a fully beyond specification tested / robust system
• Understanding that Building Regs have not yet caught up with MMC as a general system
• Some building control / fire engineers need to do more reviews and assessments to confirm that the building is safe.
• Understanding pros and limitations of the system (designer, contractor and client)

Key figures

• School will realise utility saving of c.20% per annum equating to approx. £50K saving / year
• Offsite Solutions reduced worked hours by 50%
• Zero Accidents Onsite
• Delivered in just 15 months
• 100% of the 734 tonnes of waste recycled

Flexibility

• Misconception that offsite = ‘boring box’
• Finding the right SIP approach (structural or wrapping)

Performance

• Structural solution
• Very good thermal and sustainability Carbon Zero Target
• H&S on site
• Acoustic and Fire – tested systems providing robust details