Author: Matt Tobin

Top comedian Jo Brand opens new psychology unit delivered in partnership with Coombs

Jo Brand officially opened Canterbury Christ Church University’s new Tunbridge Wells site. Located on Meadow Road, the Salomons Centre is the latest in a long line of projects delivered for the university.

Working in partnership with Betteridge & Milsom, HMY and Evans & Langford we transformed this 5-storey former office block into teaching, library and support accommodation.

The scheme achieved an outstanding 88% KPI rating as a result of the whole project team. Our local supply chain pulled together to deliver the impressive new facilities during an intensive 10-week period.

The Salomons Centre will offer postgraduate courses in the areas of applied psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Jo Brand’s association with the University started with the development of the Buddy Scheme. This pairs second year Mental Health Nursing students with a buddy who is a current mental health user. The scheme helps students understand their role and responsibilities as a mental health nurse. The scheme has won many national awards and commendations.

Mental health is a personal and professional concern for Jo. After working in psychiatric nursing for ten years, she began a career in stand-up comedy. Her experiences as a psychiatric nurse are often incorporated into her routines, increasing awareness of the work done in the field of mental health.

Furthermore, Jo was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2014, for her work raising awareness of mental health issues and challenging the stigma surrounding these illnesses.

Our work with Canterbury Christ Church University has seen a variety of buildings on their main Canterbury campus, such as the Laud Building, Maxwell Davies Building as well as the Grade II listed St Gregory’s Church in addition to other areas transformed for the benefit of their students. Selection of images reproduced courtesy of Canterbury Christ Church University.

 

University of Kent’s Cornwallis Central building is to be upgraded by Coombs.

The University of Kent chose us for the £3m Cornwallis project following a tender competition against a number of other local contractors. Our project understanding, exceptional track record of similar higher education projects and our contractor’s proposals contributed greatly to our success.

With now over 20,000 students at Kent, our works will help the University to meet the needs of their growing student body. When completed Cornwallis Central will be used as seminar rooms, study areas, offices and support areas.

Cornwallis Central will be upgraded to a more modern internal environment while providing improved academic office facilities. The extensive internal refurbishment includes some rooms being reconfigured to create additional toilet, kitchen, office space and a sound recording studio.

The internal refurbishment also includes for new mechanical and electrical services, new internal doors and frames; redecorations; new floor and ceiling finishes with new blinds to windows. Externally envelope refurbishment will comprise the installation of a new flat roofing system; new external windows and doors; repairs to external concrete and redecoration.

The existing 1970s building is located at the centre of the campus, bounded by occupied university buildings. As a result our considerate approach to construction will be employed. This approach helped Folkestone HEART achieve a 98% Customer Satisfaction rating.

Three storey Cornwallis Central is linked to the George Allen Wing at first and second floors. Safe and secure access will be maintained throughout the project.

A huge well done to everybody involved in the delivery of Folkestone HEART

98% customer satisfaction was received for this refurbishment project known as Folkestone HEART. Which is even more impressive given our customer was in-situ throughout.

Our works involved refurbishment of a Grade II listed property to create a museum with new exhibition spaces for the town’s civic collection. As well as the creation of a new multifunctional suite and Council Chamber.

The building housing Council offices, visitor information and a first floor cinema. With the building being in continual use works were carefully managed to maintain the safety of Council staff, visitors, the general public and our site team at all times. Some highlights of the feedback received include:

• 10/10 – for our approach to health & safety;
• 10/10 – for our sensitivity to those working in and around the building;
• 10/10 – for our management of the programme;
• 10/10 – for Quality of Product;

We were also rated as Significantly Better than contractors they had used in the past.

Our appointment to deliver the expansion of The Craylands School follows hot on the heels of being awarded a similar project at Harrietsham Primary School.

Both Craylands School and Harrietsham Primary School were secured following mini-competitions judging our pricing and qualitative proposals as superior to the competition.

Our project at Craylands will provide accommodation so the school can expand from 1FE to 2FE from September 2018. The scheme was procured under a D & B contract as part of Kent County Council’s Principal Contractor Framework Agreement.

Designed by Hazle McCormack Young (Architects), Evans & Langford (Engineers) and Hamson Barron Smith (Services Consultants) the project involves the relocation of an existing multi use games area to make the best use of the school site.

A new detached two storey teaching block of 8 classrooms, two group rooms and ancillary accommodation will be provided complete with all services, associated external works.