Meldrum Construction were appointed as main contractor on this new build project for Yarm School.

In brief, the project included the demolition of an existing block and construction of a new main entrance/reception area, new hall/dining room facility, new library/IT suite and new teaching classrooms.

Yarm School is a leading independent school for pupils aged 3-18 located in the beautiful town of Yarm in the Northeast of England.

Civil Engineering Works

Our Civil Engineering company completed all ground works and piling. This included all of the hard and soft landscaping, and the re-surfacing of Grammar School Lane. Due to the small size of the site coupled with public walkways, this element of the work had to be carefully manage, maintaining public access throughout.

Main operations included;

• Bulk excavation and disposal off site

• Existing drainage diversions

• Design and installation of contiguous piled retaining wall

• Installation of CFA piles to support the new building

• Under-slab drainage and ductwork

• Construction of reinforced waterproof concrete raft foundation / floor slab

• Construction of reinforced waterproof concrete perimeter retaining walls to three sides creating a sub terranean space

• New foul and surface water drainage systems

• Construction of reinforced concrete air source heat pump base

• Installation of service trenches and ductwork

• Hard landscaping to the perimeter, completing concrete block paving, artificial grass, feature staircase and bituminous surfacing

Fabrication works

Meldrum Fabrication completed offsite fabrication and installation of 40t of hot rolled steel frame and installed cold rolled purlins to accommodate cladding and roofing panels. To accommodate the air source heat pump, the team fabricated the galvanised steel frame for the air source heat pump building and associated mesh flooring panels.

Building Services Works

This package consisted of the replacement of the plant, equipment and services located in the existing Block B plantroom and the strip-out of existing mechanical plant and equipment, installing and modifying new heating equipment, domestic water services, external services, above ground drainage etc.

Connections were also provided for the future provision of a new heating circuit to serve Block A.

Renewable Energy

An air source heat pump system was installed to lower the schools carbon footprint.

Heat from the air is absorbed into fluids and then passed through a heat exchanger into the pump system and into water. This new technology has a considerably lower carbon footprint opposed to the usual electric or gas boiler.

Planning and Considerations

A meticulously planned series of works were carried out, utilising ‘just in time deliveries’ outside of operational hours to minimise disturbance to the school and community.

Excellence and Innovation, CCS

Meldrum Construction Project Manager, Andrew Widdowson won an individual award as community champion for his work on Yarm School at the considerate constructors leading lights awards afternoon at Lancaster Hotel, central London.

The team have driven and attended many initiatives, demonstrating genuine commitment to support the community in and around Yarm Prep School, included but was not limited to:-

• Holding an art competition for the students at Yarm School

• Construction talks at Yarm School

• Volunteering to fundraise for Oasis Community Housing Homeless Charity

• Supporting a Careers Fair at Yarm School – showcasing the construction industry

• Mentoring a Degree Student, 3 Sixth Form Students and 1 Secondary School Student through work experience, which led to a full-time job within the company

• Donating to Yarm Rugby Club via the Meldrum Foundation after an unfortunate break in

Andrew Widdowson commented “An individual award takes a team to achieve. A lot of the criteria is already met by our strong core values within the Meldrum Group and the hard work of everybody at Meldrum”.

Testimonial

“Yarm School is delighted with its recently completed new building comprising a new kitchen & servery area, dining hall, large foyer space, library and classrooms. From start to finish the communication between the site team and myself has worked very well with regular weekly on site meetings with the Project Manager which proved to be both effective and informative. Meldrum Construction have handled the challenges of a very tricky build on a live busy school site very well indeed.

Having recently commenced the occupation of the building, the school, and in particular, the pupils are just beginning to enjoy the fruits of all the hard work that Meldrum’s have put into the delivering of the project.”

– Alan Hodgson, Capital Development Manager, Yarm School