Beaumont Leys School

Gifford was appointed by Miller Construction (UK) Ltd to provide Civil, Structural and M&E design consultancy services for the delivery of Beaumont Leys Secondary School as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme. Completed in early 2009, the school has received national recognition, winning both the BSF School of the Year category and the overall “Grand Prix” at the Partnership for Schools’ Excellence in BSF Awards 2009.

We provided multi-disciplinary consultancy services to Miller Construction throughout the entire project, including support during the tender, planning and cost evaluation stages.

The structure consists of a multi-storey braced 180m long steel frame, with profiled metal deck concrete floors, composite steel floor beams and strategically placed movement joints. Established in conjunction with the Architectural and Services strategy, the structural floor system allows services to be distributed through the structure thus maximising occupancy space and minimising overall construction cost.

Our engineers utilised 3D analysis and design software throughout the design process to maximise the efficiency of the structural elements and minimise foundation loads. This 3D design led approach also contributed to expedient design delivery through a “clash detection” checking process that helped optimise project programme gains.

During the building design process Gifford as part of the Design & Build team appraised the constructability and maintainability of the design. Incorporating issues relating to the phasing of the project, which was built alongside an occupied school, this work contributed to achieving the most suitable overall solution.

Sustainability aspects integrated into the school’s design by Gifford specialists included BREEAM contributions, building sciences thermal studies and below ground drainage attenuation. We also sought to minimise structural materials throughout the project.

• Mechanical and electrical engineering
• Structural engineering
• Civil engineering
• Below ground drainage and attenuation design
• Ecology habitat and protected species surveys    
• Archaeological assessment
• Geotechnical and contaminated land engineering
• Framework travel plan and transport statement
• Flood risk statement

Partnership for Schools BSF Awards 2009, School of the Year category; winner, and judges' Grand Prix winner.