Chelmsford Museum
The Chelmsford Museum is based in Oaklands House, an historic property off Mousham Street in Chelmsford. It is a Grade…
Portfolio
Learn more about the broad variety of projects that we have completed in recent years.
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The Chelmsford Museum is based in Oaklands House, an historic property off Mousham Street in Chelmsford. It is a Grade…
Case study
Grade II Listed Restoration & Extension
Project value
£1m
Project type
Mixed
Project length
24 weeks
The Chelmsford Museum is based in Oaklands House, an historic property off Mousham Street in Chelmsford. It is a Grade II Listed Building. The house was designed by Charles Pertwee for Frederick Wells, a director of Chelmsford Brewery, and completed by 1865. It was constructed with an elaborate campanile and went on to be used as a hospital during the First World War. Since 1930 the house has hosted the Chelmsford Museum.
What Did The Job Involve?
The City Council obtained National Lottery funding to renovate the Victorian section of the museum and provide a new café area. In addition the project included the construction of a new outdoor glass display for a Southend Pier train carriage, extension of the car park and refurbishment and extension of the old ‘Bothy’.
Works inside the Victorian building included the renewal and improvement of services including ventilation, repairs to the fabric and creation of new openings for external access. New toilets and washing facilities were provided as well as the new café and kitchen area. Externally new accessible ramps were constructed and an external patio area created outside the café.
What Were The Challenges?
Challenges on the project included the fact that the museum and grounds remained open throughout. A new water main was bored underground without disturbance to the existing entrance. The carpark was extended and bin store constructed whilst maintaining the existing spaces. Internally the building required sympathetic treatment where features such as the ornate staircase, cornices and doors were protected and retained.
The ‘glass box’ was designed and installed by our specialist and was required to provide weather protection and sufficient ventilation to protect the carriage, whilst at the same time connecting into the new extension Rheinzinc cladding panels. This was achieved without removing the facade of the existing building.
Beardwell’s Added Value
As the museum stayed open during the project, we had to work closely with both the City Council and staff at the museum to coordinate the works around ongoing operations.To help with this we carefully segregated our works from the open areas of the museum and installed clear signage directing site staff and visitors to the relevant routes and entrances.
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It is likely that a farmstead has existed on the site at Gilwell Park for at least 600 years….
Case study
The Scout Association
Project value
£323,000
Project type
Refurb
Project length
23 weeks
It is likely that a farmstead has existed on the site at Gilwell Park for at least 600 years. The Estate was bought and sold many times and at some point over the next 250 years the current Farmhouse was built with various outbuildings needed to facilitate a working farm. 1823 historic maps clearly show the presence of the farmhouse and a large L shaped building to the North. When the Scout Association purchased the Estate in 1919, the various buildings were in a poor state of repair.
What Did The Job Involve?
Located at the Scout Association World HQ at Gilwell Park, the Gilwell Farmhouse was originally constructed some 500 years ago using a simple timber frame construction. The building had laid derelict for a number of years and the project involved the complete restoration of this Grade II listed property to enable it to be used as a function venue.
Using our own experienced carpenters significant temporary supports had to be installed to allow the structural repairs to be undertaken without the whole collapse of the building. This involved cutting out rotten timber and replacing key main supports and studwork with new.
The roof was completely renovated and retiled using reclaimed roof tiles. Externally the weatherboarding was replaced and significant brickwork repairs undertaken. Internally the property was restored using traditional construction methods including relaying of the brick floor.
What Were The Challenges?
The main challenge involved the design of temporary works. The extent of repair works could only be determined once the external boarding and roof coverings were removed. Our carpenters, who are experienced in renovations of this nature, were able to work with the Engineer to determine a method of temporary support. This required working in sections. The control of the budget was also a key concern and regular financial appraisals were undertaken with the Client’s QS to avoid an overspend.
Beardwell’s Added Value
Located on the existing Scout campus, work was planned to avoid disruption to ongoing operations. Communication was undertaken with park staff on a daily basis. Our carpenters provided specialist advice and sample work. This enabled solutions to be achieved that met both the budget and Heritage Officer approval.
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Woolverstone Hall is a large former country house located in Suffolk. It is set in 80 acres on the…
Case study
The Girls Day School Trust
Project value
£1,512,000
Project type
Mixed
Project length
24 weeks
Woolverstone Hall is a large former country house located in Suffolk. It is set in 80 acres on the banks of the River Orwell. Built in 1776 and is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in England and a Grade I listed building. This project was our first for the Girls Day School Trust and involved several phases of refurbishment of the existing school together with the construction of a new dining hall complete with an associated kitchen.
What Did The Job Involve?
Woolverstone Hall comprises a central block with flanking wings connected by colonnades. Built of Woolpit brick, with Coade stone ornamentation, the building still contains the original Adam style fireplaces and ceilings decorated with gold leaf. The main staircase has a wrought-iron honeysuckle balustrade.
Several areas of the existing building, including the Orangery, were refurbished including repairs to walls, ceilings and balustrading. New flooring was provided with improvements to provide better acoustic performance.
A new dining hall extension was constructed using a mixture of traditional and new materials which were symapthetic to the main building. Extensive glazing provides a light and modern facility. Internal refurbishment works were carried during the school holiday periods. The exist-ing kitchen layout was remodelled to suit the new facility and a new commercial kitchen installed.
What Were The Challenges?
The building is Grade I listed and therefore the biggest challenge was to ensure that the specification and methods of working were agreed in advance with the local conservation officer without delaying the project. We then had to ensure that traditional materials and craftsmanship were used to match the existing fabric of the building.
During construction of the new dining hall, a previoulsy unknown 18th century deep water cistern was discovered. This required alterations to substructure works to ensure that the feature was preserved.
The new dining hall was located in a narrow courtyard and access was only possible through an ornamental arched gateway. This imposed restrictions upon the size of vehicles and plant.
Working in a live school meant that noise producing work had to be limited to ‘out of school hours’.
Beardwell’s Added Value
The existing facility was a girls school and care had to be taken not to disrupt teaching or ongoing operations including weekend and holiday activities. This required regular liaison with on-site FM staff.
Pupil visits were entertained throughout the works.
Additional repairs and maintenance were undertaken for the school.
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Although of significant local importance, the chapel had fallen into disrepair, having stood empty for nearly 60 years. Southend…
Case study
Southend Borough Council
Project value
£1m
Project type
Refurb
Project length
34 weeks
Although of significant local importance, the chapel had fallen into disrepair, having stood empty for nearly 60 years. Southend Borough Council recognising the architectural value of the Chapel contracted Beardwell Construction to regenerate the Chapel, blending traditional building techniques with modern sustainable construction techniques to return the building back to the local community.
What Did The Job Involve?
The structure of the building underwent a complete overhaul. Both roofs were completely renewed with bespoke timber scissor trusses and finished with new welsh slate; the stonework and tracery were lovingly refurbished or replaced and the existing bell tower was completely rebuilt to the same exacting detail.
The installation of photovoltaic cells, an air source heat pump, rainwater harvester, zoned regulated ventilation, a bio tank, high frequency and LED lighting, triple glazed curtain walling and a BMS monitoring system brings the building into the 21st Century with the building achieving an energy efficiency ‘A’ rating and annual energy costs not exceeding £200.
Let on a 20-year lease local school children and charity organisations regularly use the facility. The North Wing provides a meeting/training room and the South Wing having had ‘state of the art’ computer technology installed provides a modern office facility with interactive presentation boards. The Project was recognised for its success at both local and national level.
What Were The Challenges?
Working on a listed former ecclesiastical building in the centre of Southend presented unique challenges and required daily liaison with heritage officers to ensure the works were completed to their exacting standards.
Working within the confines of a century old cemetery required careful advanced planning to ensure works were undertaken with care and respect.
Our commercial team worked in a true partnering spirit with the client to manage the spend, bringing the project in on budget – a rare event for a project of this nature.
Restricted delivery timescales and a single limited shared access presented logistical challenges. There were no existing building records available which demanded a truly collaborative approach by all the stakeholders to ensure the building was reinstated aesthetically to its original design whilst sympathetically bringing it up to modern standards.
Beardwell’s Added Value
Local resident meetings kept neighbours well informed and were a key factor to ensuring the smooth running of the project. The project was considered a complete success named by the Client as a ‘Beacon Project’ and is now back in the hands of the local community.
Beyond our contractual commitment we provided additional maintenance works within the cemetery grounds including regular grass cutting, rubbish clearance and repairs.
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Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. It is the largest college in…
Case study
Trinity College Refurbishment
Project value
£500k
Project type
Refurb
Project length
16 weeks
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. It is the largest college in either of the Oxbridge universities by number of undergraduates. The college was founded by Henry VIII in 1546. This project required the complete refurbishment of Blocks M&N within New Court.
What Did The Job Involve?
New Court is built in Tudor-Gothic style and this court is notable for the large tree in the centre with a myth sometimes being circulated that this was the tree from which the apple dropped onto Isaac Newton.
Work included minor remodelling and extensive refurbishment to provide accommodation for fellows. Work was completed in accordance with Trinity Works Department Specifications and included thermal insulation throughout, provided in an environmentally and economically advantageous manner.
In addition to new heating, lighting, power and data extensive repairs to plastered walls were undertaken along with new dry lining. Works to accommodate the services had to be mindful of the existing fabric where floorboards, lath & plaster finish and stone walls were encountered. Finishes included new flooring and a complete redecoration.
What Were The Challenges?
The challenges included working within a live university with students and the public in close proximity. In addition, the site location is in the centre of Cambridge where deliveries are restricted to certain times of the day. Noise and dust had to be strictly controlled. Moreover, the fact that the project required working within an historic environment involved a sensitive approach at all times.
Whilst our aim was to limit the number of floorboards that were required to be lifted to accomodate new electrical installation this proved impossible. Our carpenters were require to attend to these and ensure that there was no damage caused to either the boards, timber structures or ceilings below.
Beardwell’s Added Value
Production within a historic and sensitive building was a key consideration. Daily liaison was required with College staff. Regular meetings with designers and end-users was required.