Torfaen Sixth Form College, Cwmbran
Contract Value: £2.3 million
Main Contractor: Interserve
Client: Torfaen County Council
F P Hurley secured the mechanical services contract for this newly-built college near the centre of Cwmbran. Part of the 21st Century Schools Programme, the college will replace a number of sixth forms in several high schools across the county. The five-storey building will house two atriums, performance and social spaces, classrooms with moveable walls and a safe open roof garden for students and staff to enjoy. The college will transform sixth form education in Torfaen, delivering state-of-the-art learning facilities and opportunities to 1000 students.
A Coordinated Approach
There were several significant hurdles to overcome during the project. Ceilings were omitted in several highly serviced areas and replaced with acoustic baffles. This reduced space for the mechanical services and therefore required careful coordination with other services. It was vital that all mechanical services created an attractive aesthetic effect, as services are exposed in several areas. This required close collaboration with the client to ensure expectations were met. This combination of reduced service height and exposed services was challenging to coordinate. However, through technical ability, excellent communication, and a can-do attitude, the team delivered an exceptional building where students can thrive.
Our scope of services:
The team coordinated and delivered an extensive range of mechanical services. These included: a heating system consisting of radiant panels, radiators and underfloor heating, domestic hot and cold water, sprinkler system, mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation, rainwater, soil and vent drainage, BMS, external gas, water and fire hydrants. Our team carried out a Viega Megapress installation on the heating system, which brings several benefits, including reduced installation time, the avoidance of hot works, minimised noise and improved cleanliness as the need for heavy threading machines and lubricating oils is reduced.
The building has been designed to a high level of sustainability and achieved BREEAM Excellent.
