FURTHER EDUCATION
Post-16 education is changing with new learning pathways driving new demands for flexible learning environments that deliver real-world skills. We support colleges to create sustainable and progressively maintained estates that support hybrid and mixed-mode learning.
Through our capability at the cutting-edge of education construction, developed from strong, long-term relationships with colleges across the globe, we share our understanding of best practice education estates.
DEWSBURY LEARNING QUARTER
KIRKLEES COLLEGE
SERVICES: COST MANAGEMENT
COMPLETION: 2018
VALUE: £18.5M
RLB provided quantity surveying and cost management services for Kirklees College in the relocation and consolidation to their new town centre teaching facilities, the Dewsbury Learning Quarter. We provided total cost expenditure and budget management across the project and established systems in support of the client’s upstream reporting. Our cost management methodology provided a holistic picture of the financial position of the project, aiding the decision making by the college and the project team. We added value by providing the client with cashflow projection to maximise funding commitments balanced against income and expenditure. Our team also implemented an objective driven procurement process tied with value engineering to minimise cost, maximise value and secure viability for the development.
QUARRY HILL CAMPUS
LEEDS CITY COLLEGE
SERVICES: PROJECT MANAGEMENT, NEC SUPERVISOR
COMPLETION: 2019
VALUE: £60M
Quarry Hill campus, located in a new mixed-use development in the heart of Leeds’ cultural district, is a nine-storey building that includes a performing arts theatre, specialist music studios and 237 unique general teaching rooms. Our expert understanding of the function and use of educational environments allowed our team to quickly identify areas requiring wider input from the client side ensuring the end solution would allow the delivery of the educational curriculum as required by the end-user.
CAMPUS FOR ADVANCED BUILDING TECHNIQUES
DUDLEY COLLEGE
SERVICES: COST MANAGEMENT, INDEPENDENT FACILITATION AND RISK ADVICE
COMPLETION: 2017
VALUE: £11.7M
At a cost of £11.7 million, the new build five-storey teaching complex enables hands on proficiency in advance building technologies and manufacture, low carbon installations and BIM applications. The new building consists of several modern construction method training facilities and includes a multi-storey hangar where students learn how to fabricate and assemble buildings using the latest available technologies. The low energy building was delivered using the Integrated Project Insurance (IPI) Model promoting collaborative delivery, lean design and Project Bank Account practices. RLB provided independent facilitation and risk advice for all parties on the project, thereby reducing overall costs and mitigating risk.
NEW VIC PHASE
NEWHAM SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
SERVICES: COST MANAGEMENT
COMPLETION: 2015
VALUE: £7M
The college is one of the largest sixth form establishments in the UK and is the largest in London with approximately 2,750 students and staff. This project was the first phase of a complete renewal of the entire college and involved demolition of an existing entrance faade and reception area and construction of a two storey new build 2,600sq.m Learning Resource Centre. RLB added significant value to the project by providing pro-active design solutions in order to provide a balanced spend within the allocated budget. We proactively managed the cost of the project and were able to agree the final account within the allocated budget to the client’s satisfaction.
RAAC: How to spot it and what to do next
With the recent news that more than 100 schools and colleges are to partially or fully close buildings after the unsafe material, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was found in ceilings, the spotlight has firmly been placed on at risk buildings and what can be done to support them. It should be noted that RAAC does not just affect the education portfolio, but can be found across the wider public estate. RLB has experience in supporting clients through the challenges of RAAC over several building types and sectors across the public estate, including education.
