The Sound of Music£3.7m music school at Stowe School is complete

Home GrownNew offices for Brethertons Solicitors nears completion

New care development in Worcester£14.9m scheme for the Sanctuary Group

Issue #3

Work starts on Oakham School classroom block

Stepnell has been appointed to build a new classroom block at Oakham

School, an independent boarding and day school in Oakham, Rutland.

Early 2015 completion

The school’s Trustees have selected Stepnell to work on the £2.9 million

project to create a 2,000m2 three-storey facility which will be integrated into the

current Merton building.

Stepnell’s Grantham-based project team is now working on the new building

in Station Road which will house the Geography, Philosophy and Religious

Studies departments. Pupils should be able to enjoy lessons in the new facility

by early 2015.

Designed by GSS Architecture, the building will be integrated into the current

Merton classroom block which will provide a central hub for all of the school’s

languages and humanities subjects. The project is the first phase of the

redevelopment of the Merton building. The second stage will create a brand-

new Business School for the Business Studies, Economics and Politics

departments.

“It is an incredibly busy time for new developments at Oakham,” says Bursar,

Annika Hedrich-Wiggans, who is overseeing the construction. “This is just one

of our exciting major developments. As well as these new classrooms, we are

also currently building a new sports pavilion and working on plans for our new

Music School.”

Stepnell was the company which built Oakham School’s new Mehra Faculty of

Science building, completed in 2011.

“We are delighted to be continuing our

relationship with Oakham School through

the creation of this new classroom block.

We bring extensive experience of working

in occupied settings and are committed

to ensuring that the school’s day-to-day

activities experience the minimum of

disruption during construction.”

Bill Haynes, Director. Stepnell

Images: Above - The Hampton Building and lecture theatre prior the refurbishment work.Left - The Hampton Building and lecture theatre after project completion.

The Sixth Form College £1.1m Solihull school refurbishment complete

The Sixth Form College, Solihull appointed Stepnell, to

carry out a major £1.1 million internal and external façade

refurbishment of the Hampton building, a three-storey

teaching block within the college campus.

The project, which was completed in March 2014, involved

major internal refurbishment of the Hampton building’s first-

and second-floor classrooms and replacement of an existing

façade with colourful aluminium-panelled curtain walling. We

also made alterations to the layout of the building, installed

new mechanical and electrical services, redecorated and

replaced ceiling and floor finishes. The College’s lecture

theatre was also refurbished and the seating was replaced.

The installation of curtain walling to the façade of the building

and LED lighting systems will make the building warmer and

more energy efficient.

“It’s great to be able to improve our facilities on top

of that great report so that we can really deliver the

best possible service for our students. It’s good to

be working with Stepnell to achieve that aim.”

Paul Ashdown, Principal. The Sixth Form College

Images: Left - View of the new office from Clifton Road.Right - Brethertons Senior Management on a recent tour of the site.

Home GrownNew offices for Brethertons Solicitors nears completion

The new £2.3 million town centre office development which will be home to

Brethertons Solicitors LLP is nearly complete.

Designed by Rugby-based HB Architects, Stepnell have developed this three-

storey state-of-the-art, energy-efficient building incorporating architectural

features which are sympathetic to the local Rugby School conservation area. It

benefits from an open-plan, flexible design with break-out rooms and individual

meeting rooms for clients.

The energy efficiency of the building is achieved through thermal mass, choice

of materials and state-of-the-art BMS (building management system). The

BMS is a computer based system that provides optimum operation of plant and

equipment to minimise energy consumption. Among other things, it will control

motorised louvres that open automatically to control temperature and enable

night cooling.

Works still to complete mainly consist of decoration and fit out. The raised

flooring has recently been finished and the suspended ceilings are going in.

Work is due for completion at the end of June.

Our Wantage team are currently working on a £5.2 million redevelopment

project for Bayards Hill Primary School in Headington, Oxford.

The project involves significant remodelling of the current school buildings to

create modern educational facilities offering an improved layout, increased

accessibility and greater energy efficiency.

Designed by Carillion Capita, the scheme includes new single-storey

extensions to existing teaching blocks; construction of a new two-storey infill

block linking the buildings used by Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils. A

number of existing buildings will be refurbished including the two-storey Key

Stage 2 block, the administration area and the accommodation used by the

County Music Service.

The team will also replace old boilers with an energy-efficient, modern gas

system and install solar photovoltaic panels on the roof. The redevelopment

is set to create a number of jobs for local people over the duration of the

construction programme.

All areas included in phase one of the scheme have been started and currently

the roof coverings are going on to the new and extended areas.

Works are phased and school shutdown periods are being utilised for critical

activities including demolition and asbestos removal to avoid disruption to the

school.

Summer 2015 Completion

We were chosen to work on the Bayards Hill Primary School scheme through

our membership of Oxfordshire County Council’s Construction Partnership

Framework.

£5.2m primary school redevelopment in Oxford

“This is a major redevelopment which will create modern,

energy-efficient educational facilities for pupils and teaching

staff. Stepnell works extensively in this type of ‘live’ setting and

our focus will be on enabling the school to continue to function

as normal.”

Tom Wakeford, Director. Stepnell

In partnership with Sanctuary Group, our West Midlands team are currently

working on a £14.9 million care development in Worcester.

The residential development is the largest commissioned by the Sanctuary

Group to date and covers a total site area of over seven acres, comprising two

blocks of 16 apartments and eight bungalows of close care, with a three storey

60 apartment extra care block connecting to a two storey 60 bed care home via

a community hub facility complete with a basement plant room. There will also

be associated landscaping and car parking for the development.

The construction team are utilising 6ix Consulting to create matrix programmes

to deliver the complex project within the 68 week programme period.

The Sanctuary Group and Stepnell have committed to achieving CITB CSR

targets for the project; these include apprenticeship, graduate and supply chain

training programmes along with community benefit projects. The first event held

during December.

Overall progress has been positive, given the exceptional rainfall encountered

over the winter period; foundations have been completed and the ground floor

installed, the steel frame has been erected and brick work is progressing well.

Over the next few months, the brickwork element of the build will continue, floor

planks will be installed and roof trusses will be fixed.

£14.9m care development for the Sanctuary Group

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Images1. Construction in progress2. National Skills Academy work placement participants3. Stepnell apprentices with Sanctuary’s Senior

Development Manager Gareth Scanell and Stepnell’s Best practice Manager Karen Ryan

4. Children from a local Nursery visiting the site5. View of the construction works from St Johns House

Medical Centre6. Community benefits evening in Worcester

The Sound of Music£3.7m Music School at Stowe School is complete

Back in August 2012 the Wantage team began work on a £3.7 million contract

to build a state-of-the-art new Music School at Stowe School, Buckingham.

Designed by Nick Cox Architects working in association with Nicholls Brown

Webber, the two-storey Music School building is finished in combination of Bath

stone and render and situated within within Grade I* listed landscape gardens.

Contained within a two-storey concrete frame, the building features extensive

curtain walling giving panoramic views of school grounds. The facility houses

a 250-seater recital hall providing a venue for symphonic concerts, chamber

music, jazz and pop; a Sony recording studio, a library, a fully equipped rock

band room, 24 practice rooms each with a piano and recording facilities, two

classrooms, a piano room and a soundproofed percussion room.

“We’ve encountered a few

challenges along the way with

this project. Excavation works

were complicated by a number

of tree preservation orders and

the stone cladding has proved

difficult at times. Also working

within a live school environment

always requires careful planning

and close liaison with the Client”

Dave Mawby, Area Manager. Wantage

Our Poole team nearing completion on a £785k

refurbishment and remodelling contract at the

Blandford Community Hospital in Blandford Forum.

Working with Architects the Relph Ross

Partnership, Stepnell remodelled existing wards

to provide new dental and day services at the

hospital with facilities including treatment rooms,

occupational therapy rooms and offices while

remaining wards were refurbished. Outside, a

glazed timber walkway now spans the courtyard

linking the two sides of the building.

The main works comprised demolition and

construction of new walls and partitions along

with new floor and ceiling finishes and decoration.

Harvey and Snowdon structural engineers designed

supporting steelwork for the waiting room where a

chimney breast was removed.

“This programme of

work will allow the

hospital to provide

much needed services

for the community and

provide a high-quality

healthcare environment

for staff and patients”

Derek Middleton, Director. Stepnell

Blandford Community HospitalNew Dental and Day services facilities for Blandford Community Hospital

Magdalen College

Work has recently begun on a £5.9m

refurbishment and extension scheme of

a Grade II* listed building or Magdalen

College. Working with Wright &

Wright Architects, we were awarded

the contract following the successful

completion of the enabling works in

February 2014.

Mansfield College

Working with Rick Mather Architects,

the £2.7m, two-storey kitchen block,

refurbishment of listed building, new

workshop building and associated

external works at Mansfield College is

nearing completion.

Oriel College

Also nearing completion is the £3.8m

alterations, demolition & refurbishment

scheme of the Grade II* Listed Rhodes

building. Working with Marcus Beale

Architects, works include removal of

the existing roof and formation a 3rd

floor with roof over and lift installation.

Nuneaton funeral home for the Heart of England Co-operative Society

Due for completion in August 2014 is a

£448,500 contract to convert a former

youth centre into the new funeral

‘hub’ with Architects, Alan C Riley

Associates.

Stamford Endowed School

In January 2014, working with GSS

Architecture,we began work on a new

£1.4m Performing Arts Centre which is

due for completion in September 2014.

Design and build scheme for Abingdon extra care development

Work has begun on a £4.9 million

contract for the design, development

and construction of a high-quality

extra care housing scheme for older

residents in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Working with Bedfordshire Pilgrims

Housing Association Ltd and The

Design Partnership, completion is due

in March 2015.

£250k Marlborough House reception

Recently completed is a single-storey

reception building for Marlborough

House in Milton Keynes with GBS

Architects. The facility provides

services to patients with mental health

issues who require assessment and /

or treatment in secure conditions.

New

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Head Office

Stepnell House

Lawford Road

Rugby

Warwickshire

CV21 2UU

01788 574511

Grantham Office

65 South Parade

Grantham

Lincoln

NG31 6HT

01476 564726

Nottingham Office

27 Eldon Business

Park

Nottingham

Nottinghamshire

NG9 6DZ

01159 575520

Wantage Office

Cane Lane

Grove

Wantage

Oxfordshire

OX12 OAB

01235 772772

www.stepnell.co.uk

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Poole Office

Unit 10 Stepnell Reach

541 Blandford Road

Hamworthy

Poole, Dorset

BH16 5BW

01202 632324

Kidderminster Office

(George Law)

35 Mill Street

Kidderminster

DY11 6XB

01562 820421