New 60 Student Boarding House at Bede’s
MacConvilles are delighted to have supported Bede’s School in constructing a new modern Boarding House in the heart of the school’s campus. The new two-storey building was a project started before the pandemic, and, whilst delayed, the finished result is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved.
The stunning new development features inspiration from its location next to the South Downs. It includes modern facilities, accommodating 70 beds with scope for higher capacity, a 170 square meter atrium, learning spaces, flexible spaces for meetings and conferences, offices, kitchen facilities, and storage areas. It also uses an eco-friendly heat source to reduce its carbon footprint. There is a focus on nature and the environment throughout the house, featuring wood finishes and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Soon after beginning this project, the pandemic halted construction. Our team supported the return to site once confidence and conditions allowed, agreeing on a suitable programme and inflation uplift to allow the project to complete in time for the new academic year and to a high standard, despite the market volatility.
Procurement options were discussed in depth before agreeing on a Two-Stage Design & Build route to manage risk and gain valuable input from the preferred contractor at the Second Stage to deliver the project within budget.
The development site was previously used to stockpile excavated material from previous work, requiring additional site investigation and exploration. Alternative options for removing waste were explored, and the associated landfill taxes were minimised.
Working in partnership with the contractor and design team, extensive Value Engineering ensured the successful completion of the project whilst maintaining architectural integrity and avoiding an increase in Whole Life Costs.
"Dorms is a great example of first-class, 21st-century boarding accommodation which I am sure will be appreciated by all current and future students.”
Robin Fletcher, CEO Boarding Schools Association
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