JG Projects were proud to be approached by Kings Academy Brune Park to carry out a complete ceiling refurbishment to their gym ceiling. Below we’ll discuss this project which had a strict time frame and several practical challenges.

Kings Academy Brune Park is a large secondary school in Gosport, Hampshire with a capacity of 1800 children aged 11-16. With so many children, their gym is in constant use for PE lessons as well as other school activities, and the ceiling needs to be robust enough to withstand day to day use.

The original ceiling was around 20 years old and becoming a hazard. Despite attempts to patch the ceiling over the years, it required complete replacement to be able to cope with modern day PE lessons and meet the strict health and safety requirements of a school building.

JG Projects were appointed by the site manager at Brune Park to carry out this work, which had to be completed in the 6-week summer holiday.

A basic spec from the client was provided, which we adjusted to include our recommendations for enhanced project results. When the spec was approved, a project plan was drawn up.

The start of the project

At project commencement, we installed our own health and safety team, as well as full time project management, which was on site throughout the project, to allow the client to have minimal involvement day to day. Weekly updates for the client helped keep them informed of the project progress.

JG Projects employed a team of our trusted sub-contractors to help us complete the project.

The first stage was a complete strip out of the existing laying grid system ceiling. These ceiling systems were popular with schools and industrial institutions in the past. However, the grids often have shallow rebates where the tiles sit. This means that tiles can easily become dislodged due to vibration and movement over time. With so many children running around in the gym and throwing balls, it’s not surprising that many of the existing tiles had deteriorated, moved or fallen out!

The ceiling had a total area of 500m2 with height of up to 8 metres. We used scissor lifts to access and dismantle the ceiling safety, with all elements of the original ceiling beingrecycled off site.

A strong, smooth and safe ceiling

We installed a suspended metal framed ceiling designed for heavy duty applications. This ceiling solution can withstand high impact but also be good for acoustics, which is necessary for such a large space. A galvanised steel framework attaches directly to the structural soffit, with British Gypsum plasterboard attached to the frame. All materials were supplied by Belgrade Insulation and Drylining.

The previous ceiling was not insulated, and the original specification presented by the client did not include insulation. We discussed the benefits of insulation with the client prior to commencing the project and were able to install100mm thick acoustic insulation at a reduced cost. This willvastly improve the temperature in the gym, keeping it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, while also making a huge saving on the schools’ energy bills. It also further enhances the acoustics in the gym, making it easier for the teacher to be heard in the large space and reducing echo during activities.

Electric works were then carried out, including installation of the lighting and fire detection system. We installed Pacific LED Gen5 Lighting, which is not only waterproof but also has a high level of dust protection while maintaining high performance in challenging environments.

The final stages included decorating the space and a complete builders clean at the end. Snagging was carried out internally by our own team, to ensure that the gym was fully ready for the pupils to return in September.

Ready, Steady, Go!

As a school, Kings Academy Brune were of course keen to ensure that the project was completed on time.

To achieve this all trades had to adhere to the strict schedule set out by the project plan. Both the JG Team and our subcontractors are highly experienced in time-sensitive projects and understand the implications of delay.

As a result, the project, including snagging, was carried out on time and on budget and kids are playing basketball there as we speak!

If you’d like to find out more about how JG Projects can help with a similar project, get in touch.