Issue No. 29 Published by GSSArchitecture Winter 2011

£15m projects start on site at Moulton College

Pictured at the ground-breaking ceremony are (l-r) Brian Gotch of GSS, How the new sports injury and rehabilitation centre will look when completed. Gerald Davies of Moulton College, Prof Bill Ribbans, Chris Moody and Tom Lyons.

Construction of an £8 million Sports Injury pool. This will also be available for use by Construction is also well under way on a and Rehabilitation Centre is now under way the wider community. The new facilities have £7 million three-storey Welfare and Social at Moulton College’s Pitsford Centre, near been warmly welcomed by Sport . Centre which will replace existing outdated . The guest of honour at a facilities. ground-breaking ceremony was orthopaedic College Principal Chris Moody, who retired surgeon and sports injury specialist at the end of January, said: “This will provide The attractive new building at the heart of the Professor Bill Ribbans, who cut the first sod. exceptional teaching and recreational college will enable all the social and welfare facilities for our students and staff, together facilities to be brought together under one The building will reflect the rural style of with superb clinical facilities to support roof. The project is scheduled to be completed many of the college’s other buildings. It will local, regional and national sports clubs by the start of the autumn term. provide a teaching resource for all sports and athletes. It will offer unrivalled studies courses, together with specialist work experience opportunities for facilities for sports therapy and physiotherapy our students, and will help establish programmes, and a 25-metre swimming a National Centre of Excellence.” From the Editor

It is probably still too soon to assess how the November marked the first anniversary of economy will turn out in 2011, but we remain GSS’s new office in the north of England. very busy and cautiously optimistic, and we have “Initially we had a small office near been delighted to win several important new GSS celebrates first Leeds, but we soon decided to move to clients in the past few months. We are of course a much larger one in Harrogate,” said also extremely grateful to our many longstanding year in Yorkshire partner Jonathan Hunter. “It’s been a very existing clients for their continuing support. successful first year, and we have taken on six new members of staff.” GSS’s Harrogate In the past couple of years we have undertaken office works throughout the north and projects in no fewer than 29 different counties, counts Durham University among its clients. from Cumbria and Durham in the north to Essex and Cambridgeshire in the east, and to Devon and “We are putting a lot of effort into building Cornwall in the south-west. One imagines that our up our business,” said Jonathan, “And we founder, John Alfred Gotch, who established this are looking to work across all business practice in Kettering in1879, would be impressed sectors. We are also undertaking projects not just by the areas that we now cover, but also by for Yorkshire ProHelp, part of a national the variety of projects that we undertake. voluntary network organised by Business in the Community, where professional firms Finally, perhaps I could express a few words of provide help and advice in support of local appreciation to all our staff, who have worked community schemes.” extremely hard through difficult times to ensure that we continue to provide not only good quality The GSS team celebrates their first year. Front (l-r) are David “We are committed to providing our clients architecture that gives excellent long term value for Allsop, Jonathan Hunter, Heather Murgatroyd and Sally with an exemplary service, which we believe money, but also the very best quality of service. Hardcastle. At the back (l-r) are James Elliott, Andrew Grattan, is the best way to ensure a successful future,” Shaun Wilson, John Dutton and John Edwards. said Jonathan. David Allsop This illustration shows how the Harcourt Hill scheme will look when completed.

The new development, seen from Marston Road.

The pavilions are arranged around a central quadrangle. To the left of the picture is the Postgraduate Lounge. The pavilions are a mix of three and four storeys.

Oxford student accommodation is looking good

The latest multi-million pound student accommodation project designed by GSS is very close to completion at Oxford Brookes University. The £17 million project provides an additional 358 places for postgraduates. This is the third phase of the Clive Booth Halls of Residence at Marston Road, the first of which provided 650 places, and was completed eight years ago.

The project was handled by GSS’s Bristol office and of St Mary’s Church in the city centre. The rooms A further project designed by GSS for Oxford comprises a series of linked three- and four-storey are naturally ventilated while the buildings feature Brookes University is shortly due to start on site. pavilions arranged around a central quadrangle. sustainable cedar cladding. The project has a The £15 million scheme is at Harcourt Hill in This has a water feature and a Postgraduate BREEAM “Very Good” rating. Oxford, and will provide 316 rooms in two large Lounge. The pavilions have a mix of individual en- blocks. There are individual en-suite rooms suite rooms and flats of different sizes with up to The main contractor under a design and build (and some doubles) with shared well-equipped six students sharing a well-equipped kitchen. contract was Leadbitter Construction Ltd, to whom kitchens. Both buildings will feature sustainable GSS were novated. GSS also designed 160 new green roofs. The project reflects the materials used by nearby student flats at Morrell Halls, which is adjacent to residential buildings. Most of the gently sloping the Clive Booth Halls of Residence. GSS’s project GSS has worked with Oxford Brookes for over 15 roofs are green sedum, to assist in maintaining managers were retained by Oxford Brookes as years and has designed buildings to the value of the green backdrop when viewed from the tower Employers’ Agents on both projects. over £80 million.

Employers Agent role New lease on housing project of life for fire-damaged Manor House

Will Assheton discusses progress with Jim Conroy of contractors Steele and Bray.

Corby Manor House, which was gutted by a severe fire in March 2009, is being given a new lease of life as a School of Catering for Tresham College. GSS are acting as Employers Agents for the Bela The building was designed by GSS’s founder, John explained, “We have considerable experience Partnership on a large housing project at Kingswood Alfred Gotch, in the early 1900s and GSS has now of restoring fire-damaged buildings, and the in Corby, (pictured). This is being been awarded the task of undertaking the £2.4 essential first stage was to make the remains of part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency million restoration and conversion project. As well the building safe. We have now undertaken the as part of their ‘Kickstart’ housing programme. The as acting as architects, GSS are also responsible design of the detailed restoration and conversion main contractor is Keepmoat Homes. The £14.4 for quantity surveying and project management. into a School of Catering, and construction work is million scheme will see 146 new homes constructed, now under way.” of which 116 are for private sale and 30 are affordable Soon after the fire occurred GSS was appointed by housing for Corby Borough Council. All homes are Corby Borough Council to manage the necessary “It is certainly a very challenging task and involves being built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable works to safeguard the shell and fully secure the a number of skilled craftsmen, but it’s one that we Homes, and each will have rainwater harvesting and walls and chimney stacks. Partner Will Assheton are used to,” said Will. roof mounted solar hot water panels. Warehousing and offices are under construction

Some of the Gladstone Road units.

Construction of the first phase is now well under way on a warehouse and office project on the Kings Heath Industrial Estate in Northampton. It is due to be completed in the new few weeks and will provide a UK headquarters and warehouse for Tennant UK. GSS have been novated as architects to Stepnell Ltd, the main contractors, while GSS’s quantity surveyors are acting as Employers Agents for Broadley Properties Ltd, the site developer. Tennant UK’s new HQ will look like this when completed.

The site in Gladstone Road dates from the 1960’s, and in order to feature tinted glazing, with curtain walling. in Leicestershire, where plans have been make way for the development some older buildings have been By setting back the elevations it has been approved for a new discount store. At demolished. These are being replaced with three separate warehouse possible to allow space for lorries to turn Hanworth Trading Estate in the London units ranging in size from 5,300 sq.ft. to 8,200 sq.ft. There will also round on site as well providing extra off-road Borough of Hounslow, planning permission be two-storey office accommodation ranging in size from 1,700 sq.ft. parking. has now been obtained for a commercial to 5,700 sq.ft. The £1.75 million scheme is being constructed in two redevelopment scheme which will provide phases, and the illustrations show how the project will look when Elsewhere GSS is working with Marlin a 50,000 square feet DIY unit for Selco with completed. The elevations are of high quality design with a mixture Land on a number of schemes in both the seven associated speculative smaller units. of flat panel and microrib cladding panels, profiled cladding and Greater London area and in Melton Mowbray GSS’s client is Sisk Marlin Developments Ltd.

A new theatre building has been designed by GSS for Brooke Priory School in Oakham, Rutland. GSS associate Phil Morgan explained, “The two-storey multi-functional theatre New theatre is taking is to the side of Oakham School’s extensive playing fields, which are also used by Brooke shape in Rutland Priory. The design is in harmony with the single storey school buildings, while the entrance to the theatre will make an impressive statement. There will be a full height glass wall wrapping round to the eastern elevation, whilst the upper level of the theatre building will have sustainable cedar cladding.”

There will be a lift to the first floor, where there will be a music room and a space for design technology. On the ground floor new changing rooms are being incorporated. These will have an external door, enabling their use by children who are undertaking outdoor activities on the playing fields. The new facilities have been welcomed by Sport England.

A nursery building has been refurbished and extended to provide enhanced facilities. These include a secure courtyard play area which is bounded on one side by the new theatre. The total value of the project is just over £1 million.

The partner-in-charge is architect David Allsop. Associate Chris Chapman heads the design Phil Morgan of GSS outside the new theatre building. team, while associate Phil Morgan is responsible for project management and quantity surveying.

Conservation projects New housing completed continue at Kelmarsh Hall Tom’s New York schools study tour in Somerset

Tom Lyons presents at the Kean University education symposium Preparations are taking place for major repairs GSS partner Tom Lyons (pictured) was part of a team Two of the homes on the new housing development. to the main roof at Kelmarsh Hall, near Market from the British Council for School Environments Harborough. Repairs to the stonework have also that visited New York for a week in December to A social housing development designed by GSS’s recently been undertaken to the south pavilion. GSS look at a range of innovative learning projects at Bristol office for Yarlington Homes Ltd, has partner Will Assheton explained, “We have been secondary, primary, charter and special schools. been completed near Langport, Somerset. The working with Kelmarsh Hall for a number of years 17 houses and apartments have replaced eight on a variety of conservation and other projects. The The tour included a conference with the NYC Cornish precast reinforced concrete houses, and ground floor of the south pavilion was previously Superintendent for Schools and his team, who are there is a mix of rental and shared ownership. The converted into a tea room for visitors with offices responsible for the education of 1.1m students. development has a special 3-bedroom apartment on the first floor. Additional toilet facilities were Tom also attended a symposium at Kean University for a family with disabilities, designed specifically also provided. The ballroom in the main building where he presented to educationalists, academics to meet their particular and unique needs. They was repaired and carefully decorated, while a and architects on school design and transforming were previously living in one of the houses on the large room in the basement was converted into existing buildings. site. This involved many meetings with both the accommodation suitable for weddings and other family and the Occupational Therapists. events”. “This was a very fascinating but intensive week,” said Tom. ”We experienced a range of different The development complies with the Code for Kelmarsh Hall was designed in the 1730s by James educational techniques and approaches in various Sustainable Homes, achieving level 3, and has been Gibbs, who also designed St Martin-in-the-Fields. innovative learning environments. It was a real constructed to Secured by Design standards. The Many of the internal decorations are by the noted opportunity to share ideas and discuss how these contractor was Mansell, under a design and build interior designer Nancy Lancaster. could be applied in the UK.” contract. One of the new smaller classrooms. Children read their books in one of the new classrooms.

Bishop Peter with (on his immediate right) school priest Father Eamon Murran and Head Teacher Mrs Catherine Cassidy with some of the pupils. On Bishop Peter’s left The new entrance. are Deacon Paul Wyer and Monsignor Kevin McGinnell

School amalgamation receives Bishop’s blessing

St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Primary School in Luton has been formally blessed by the Bishop of Northampton, the Rt Rev Peter Doyle, following the amalgamation of the former infant and junior schools. Bishop Peter held a Mass which was attended by teachers, parents, pupils and governors, and then toured the school.

The £1.5 million project was designed by GSS, the existing accommodation. An attractive new of our new buildings. With such an extensive who have been working with the Diocese on entrance provides a secure waiting area as well refurbishment and new buildings we will be able its schools development programme. GSS as a link to the two main buildings.” to continue for at least the next 50 years.” senior technologist James Webster explained, “We designed a new single-storey three- Head Teacher Mrs Catherine Cassidy said, “We The GSS partner-in-charge was Tom Lyons, and classroom block, a new pre-school facility, and were celebrating two great occasions; our 50th the quantity surveyor was Matthew Dodd. The the remodelling and refurbishment of much of anniversary and the blessing and dedication main contractor was Watson & Cox.

Sports & leisure centre to rise from the ashes

A multifunctional sports and leisure complex is rooms, meeting rooms, lounge and function currently on site at Duston in Northamptonshire. rooms, offices and toilets, with full facilities for the The £1.5 million project is taking place at the site disabled. It will provide a home for local guides, of the former Timken Sports Centre, which was brownies and other clubs. Externally there will largely destroyed in a fire in 2006, leaving just be new landscaping with a variety of trees and the steel framework and the concrete floor slab shrubs. A dense row of conifers has been removed of a previous sports hall undamaged. so that the bowling green can be seen from the terrace. These are now being incorporated into the new complex, saving substantially on cost as a result Construction commenced in December 2010 and of the significant reduction in demolition and is scheduled to be completed in September this other costs. The new facilities will provide the year. The client is Duston Parish Council and local community with access to a variety of sports the main contractor is Deejak of Rushden. GSS’s including football, archery, martial arts and partner-in-charge is Ian Bray, the design team The GSS management team discusses the project on site. outdoor bowls. The two-storey building will have leader is Chris Chapman, and the QS team leader Pictured (l-r) are Ian Bray, Paul Vega and Chris Chapman. an external terrace and will incorporate changing is Paul Vega. £5 million sports centre opens in Teesside

A £5.3 million state-of-the-art international sports centre designed by GSS’s Harrogate office has been formally opened in Stockton-on-Tees. The new sports facilities (pictured) are at Durham University’s Queen’s campus. The opening was celebrated by over four hundred students, staff and representatives from the region. To mark the occasion a Premier League basketball game was played between Durham and Northumbria. Durham took the victory with a final score of 71-49.

GSS partner Jonathan Hunter explained, “The success of this project represents how we have continued to grow in this region. GSS have worked closely with the university to develop this facility which provides much needed sports facilities as well as allowing them to expand their community outreach work.”

The new sports facility includes a cutting-edge hall comprising international GSS has been working with Durham University for the past seven years, badminton, volleyball, netball and basketball courts. In addition, a fitness and in that time has designed a brand new college at Durham, a new Junior suite featuring high-tech cardio-vascular and resistance machines and Common Room at Stockton, and several major refurbishment projects a dedicated ‘ergo’ rowing room have also been provided. There are also including one at the Grade I listed Durham Castle. Both the sports centre multi-activity studios, including a spinning room and a dance studio. and the JCR have been nominated for awards. Outline proposals have also been prepared for a major expansion to the world-renowned Business The new sports centre has some 50 staff and is accessed each week by up School at Durham University. We hope to cover this in a future issue of to 800 students and 100 visitors. GSS Review.

Project to start at Scarborough Hospital

Work is due to start shortly on improved facilities to the Radiography Department at Scarborough General Hospital. The project, which has been designed by GSS, is due to commence in March and will feature a new Mammography Scanning Suite as well as an Ultrasound Room. There will also be an attractive new reception and patient waiting area.

GSS’s Harrogate office has been working closely with the Scarborough and NE Yorkshire NHS Trust over the past year to develop a strategy for improving facilities to support a number of the hospital’s core services. The overall plan also includes comprehensive works to their ITU Department in order to improve the patient experience and to enhance available services.

This will involve a substantial remodelling of the hospital’s existing ITU Department to provide a dedicated Isolation Ward for especially vulnerable patients. The final phase of works includes the relocation of the anaesthetists’ office so that they are more closely located with the operating theatres which they support. The work at Scarborough Hospital is part of an on-going strategic plan to improve the facilities across the site.

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