In the heart of Durham City our Construction Services team have built a brand new multi-million pound digital media centre, complete with high-tech IT hub, multimedia room, TV studio, cinema, conference / event room and 13 classrooms for the large post-16 school in the North East. As well as this, students can enjoy a new games room and have a bite to eat in the building’s café.
This £3.4m project, which ran from November 2018 to September 2019, was completed by our in-house team following the collapse of the previous contractor. Our team stepped in to ensure this project could proceed, and ensure the new building was delivered on time and to client satisfaction in readiness for the new intake. Whilst, the initial proposal was to deliver a two-storey building, we have created a 3-story building complete with lift.
The project delivery was complex, and we worked with Durham University archaeologists to map and record findings as excavation works were undertaken, handle the logistical issues on site due to the proximity to school and leisure centre, and worked with residents and businesses to minimise disruption. At its height, we had sixty-three highly skilled council workers and 13 locally sourced subcontractors worked tirelessly to ensure the project was completed on time, despite meeting some challenging ground and weather conditions along the way.
Ellen Beveridge, Head Teacher commented: “… today is our first day with our new students. We have enrolled over 900 students into year 12 (highest ever). I am so proud and delighted to see them walk into the new Digital Media Centre. It is amazing, and we are so, so happy. Thank you so much. I have never underestimated the amount of work (and push) that has been needed over the past 10 months. A brilliant team, well done and again, thank you.”