Composite completes 4-storey car park and supermarket for Waitrose adjacent to busy railway line.
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Architect:
Initiatives in Design
Engineer:
David Osborne Associates
Quantity Surveyor:
Robinson Low Francis
Contractor:
Willmott Dixon
Construction Ltd
Client:
Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames
A ‘Building Schools for the Future’ project
Designed to be built in two phases
Offers a design life in excess of 50 years
Thermal mass and minimal sound transference qualities
Composite constructed the precast concrete structural frame for this three-storey teaching block at Chessington Community College in two phases. The college was handed over to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in April 2009.
We designed the structure to meet both the bespoke requirements of Building Schools for the Future
and the Royal Borough’s key requirements for an innovative learning environment. Our solution contributes to energy efficiency and space flexibility
, which will allow the college to be adapted in response to advances in technology and education during the next 20-30 years.
A feature of the design is that, where feasible, the frames are exposed, a concept we developed with the architect, Initiatives In Design, for the previous Crossways Academy contract for London Borough of Lewisham. The success of Crossways Academy was instrumental in our early introduction by IID to Chessington College and subsequent nomination to Willmott Dixon.
This early involvement meant that IID were able to develop the finer details of the design and coordinate interfaces with other trades at an early stage in the project. As a result, the client’s programme aspirations could be achieved.
As well as having thermal mass and minimal sound transference qualities, precast concrete offers a design life in excess of 50 years
, has an inherent one-hour fire rating
and the ability to take direct decoration
, which offer cost and programme advantages.
"Composite has made an invaluable contribution to this fast track programme
and their early design involvement has enabled key decisions to be made at a stage necessary to ensure the successful integration of mechanical & electrical services and other related building trades
." Simon Tupper, Partner, Initiatives in Design
"I found Composite’s role in the project was very positive, helpful and informative
. Their input early on in the project ensured that the programming of vital elements as the columns and beams could start earlier by being cast off site and brought on when required by the main contractor. The concrete finishing of the columns and the beams were designed to be fair faced and were off a good standard, this sped up the internal finishing process to the overall design by reducing the amount of wet trade work”. Antony Wedge, Corporate Building Engineer - RBK Interim Project Development Manager, Learning & Children's Services Property Team, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
