ST EDMUND HALL, OXFORD

VALUE:
£290,000

The project required a combination of technical expertise and a sensitive approach to preserving key historical elements of the site. It involved the demolition of various buildings, along with part of the three-storey main building, while ensuring that historically significant sections were retained for integration into the new construction. 1. Safe Demolition and Asbestos Removal: Execute the demolition of specified structures and remove asbestos materials in line with all applicable health and safety regulations. 2. Preservation of Historical Features: Safeguard historically significant items, including the Brockhues plaque and the Chapel stone/plaque, for future use. 3. Minimising Disruption: Ensure minimal disruption to neighbouring institutions, particularly Oxford University's Department of Education, by carefully managing noisy activities. 4. Bricks were also salvaged and cleaned for use in the new scheme. Project Delivery Mechanical and Manual Demolition The demolition phase involved using demolition 360’s and a high-reach demolition machine to dismantle buildings safely. Great care was taken to separate the section of the main building to be demolished from the retained, historically important part. This required detailed hand-separation techniques to ensure the preservation of the structure that was to be integrated into the new build. Asbestos Removal The project site contained both licenced and non-licenced asbestos materials. Our team managed the safe removal of these hazardous materials as follows: · Licenced Asbestos Removal: We adhered to stringent safety standards and regulations to safely remove licenced asbestos-containing materials. · Non-Licenced Asbestos Removal: This included the removal of windows and other non-licenced asbestos-containing components. · Roof Tile Removal: Roof tiles were carefully removed under a bat licence, following a watching brief to ensure wildlife protection. Scaffolding and Access Scaffolding was erected around the site to provide access for work at different levels. This included protective scaffolding to safeguard against damage during mechanical demolition. For the demolition of the remaining chimneys, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) were used to provide safe access. Internal Strip-Out and Access Roads We completed an internal strip-out of the buildings and constructed internal access roads for plant and lorry movements. These internal roads were essential for maintaining safe and efficient transport throughout the project. Boundary Wall Demolition The boundary walls, which contained asbestos materials, were carefully demolished in compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations. Both mechanical demolition and asbestos removal techniques were employed. Noise Management and Coordination A crucial element of the project involved managing noise levels to avoid disrupting the adjacent Department of Education at Oxford University. To this end, noisy demolition tasks were scheduled at specific times to minimise disturbance. Our meticulous planning and cooperation with the client and the university ensured a smooth execution, with no complaints or interruptions reported.