Bristol-based Integral Build has completed an eight-month refurbishment project at the city’s historic The Red Maids’ School, creating contemporary facilities for students, teachers and visitors within its original Edwardian complex.
The £1.6m transformation involved building a new library in a two-storey void in the centre of the main school building in Westbury-on-Trym, extensive modernisation and expansion of the dining hall and remodelling the visitor reception area.
The original redbrick walls of the existing void now surround a new learning space with a contemporary urban feel, equipped with Kindles, iPads, an extensive electronic library with brightly-coloured fixtures and fittings, bold lighting and a library desk made from 1,000 recycled books.
Three new classrooms were built in the space housing the former school library and disabled access was improved in the main building with a lift, a ramped entrance to the rear courtyard area as well as new toilets.
The dining room facilities now include a ‘show cooking’ station where hot meals are cooked to order, sparkling water on tap and a new servery area.
The new facilities were officially opened this week by award-winning playwright, poet and author Michael Morpurgo OBE.
Integral Build divisional director Tim Stringer said: “This was a challenging project because we were working in a live and very dynamic environment and to very specific constraints regarding both the working landscape and term times.
“Health and safety, cost control and communication were key. Despite some unpredicted structural challenges as the project unfolded, the end result is stunning and we are very grateful to the school which has been immensely flexible.
“This project builds on our specialist expertise in the education sector.”
The Red Maids’ School, founded 380 years ago, is the oldest independent girls’ school in England. Its 600 pupils are aged 11 to 18.
Bursar Peter Taylor, who oversaw the project for the school, said: “We are fortunate to be situated in a beautiful 12-acre site which has been home to the school since 1911, but this has naturally changed in a number of ways since then.
“This investment is a commitment to ensuring our facilities are the best they possibly can be, in order to benefit our students in their academic and personal development. This is a very satisfying combination of old and new and pupils, and staff are delighted with the end result.”
Integral Build worked with a local team on the project including Bristol architects Stride Treglown, Wiltshire project managers CMS, the Bristol office of structural engineers Jenkins and Potter and services consultant Jones King, also based in the city.
Integral Build, a division of Integral UK, the UK’s largest privately owned property solutions company, specialises in construction, interiors, refurbishment and fit out projects across the southern half of the UK.
Pictured: The Red Maids' School headmistress Isabel Tobias with Michael Morpurgo
