• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Pocklington School

Project:                        School Library
Location:                     Pocklington near York
Duration:                     10 Weeks
Form of Contract:       Main Contractor

The PocklingtonSchool project at the time was one of the most interesting projects we had come across for quite some time, the assignment was to turn the school gymnasium into a two story library while incorporating a plethora of specialist features. When we initially saw the designer’s proposals for an elliptical mezzanine floor, floating on stanchions and linked to the outer walls by only two humped bridges we were literally blown away so we got to work straight away on sorting out how this was going to be done.

Along with the other specialist features this one off project included a curved spine staircase, over 50 meters of custom made stainless steel handrail, bespoke cabinetry and an abundance of solid Oak used in different applications. This completed project is truly astonishing in all aspects and is a testament to modern technology and good old fashioned hard work.

As well as the above, two bespoke bag storage areas were also constructed in oak along with three offices, all with the same theme running throughout.

The gymnasium was in desperate need of refurbishment. Lining out and plastering all walls along with a new ceiling was initially required. Before any of this work could commence all the old gymnasium equipment had to be carefully removed and stored for future re-location.

To support the mezzanine we had to break through the existing timber gym floor, dig down to solid ground and construct shuttering to allow the pouring of 1 cubic meter of concrete per mezzanine leg. The concrete poured was pumped into the building using a 30 meter “Pumi pump”, all shuttering and concrete was to the specifications and requirements of our structural engineers report. Later in the project when the mezzanine was installed the top right hand window was removed to form the new fire doorway leading out to a new external fire escape staircase all as per the fire officer’s requirements.

With the mezzanine been elliptical the outer RSJ sections and “humped” link bridges were rolled to create the one off shapes. The only two places that the mezzanine touch the walls of the building are the one access point and the fire escape both by use of the link bridges.

You can see from the pictures the freshly plaster boarded walls, new MF ceiling and “humped” link bridges that allow access to this truly magnificent space. The light fittings were imported Italian pendants.

This project included the following; New air conditioning, full decoration, bespoke hand made oak unitary for the book cases, desks, mezzanine cladding, link bridges, column claddings, librarians desk etc.  Full electrical first and second fix, new fire alarm system including linking into the existing system covering the rest of the building. Solid oak stair treads rapped with carpet to match the existing new carpets throughout.

Note: the unique column claddings these were sketched by the designer on site, immediately put into production in our factory and days later they were on site and fitted.