The facility incorporates a series of practical mock construction bays, providing students with realistic environments in which to develop and demonstrate their trade skills. The works also include the construction of a classroom and welfare facilities, including toilets, together with the installation of windcatchers to provide natural ventilation and improve the internal learning environment.

After strip out works began, Meldrum Fabrication fabricated and erected the structural steel to create the mezzanine, making space for the additional skills area, which is wheelchair accessible via a lift. Included in this package, Meldrum Fabrication created connection designs, supplied and installed structural steel, including; trimming steel, an external canopy, install of precast concrete stairs, column protectors, and handrails & balustrades, including stiffeners.

This work also included the addition of stairs leading up to the mezzanine floor. Meldrum Construction, our in-house MEP design team and M&E subcontractors then carried out the fit out, including M&E works, a new plant room for mezzanine connections, a concrete pour, plastering, painting, decoration, flooring and the addition of a roller shutter door between the new and old workshop, which was made to measure.

Construction Centre of Excellence

Contract type: JCT

Client: New College Durham

Sector: Education

A rapid turnaround for New College Durham on their Centre of Excellence, delivered by Meldrum Construction in collaboration with sister company Meldrum Fabrication. The learning space redevelopment has formed open workshops, formal teaching spaces and other practical learning environments.

Doubling the learning space, the workshop now benefits from a mezzanine level for students to accommodate spray booths, low level joinery, tiling and a maintenance area.