Located in the London Borough of Newham, England, Lister Community School is a mixed community school which aims to provide a world class education to young people in Newham.
Project in focus
The project’s focus was to expand the school from nine forms of entry to eleven, and McAvoy was appointed due to its reputation for delivering high-quality modular solutions to the education sector. Works included creating a three-storey Performing Arts wing, with a dance and drama suite, attached to the existing school, as well as teaching and ancillary spaces.
Scope of works also included an outside performance landscape, complete with a stage, reconstituted stone step, amphitheatre, green spaces, two canopies, and one covered walkway to the existing building.
Traditional elements such as the dance hall integrate seamlessly with the modular elements of the build, demonstrating the adaptiveness of the McAvoy solution which provides schools with the freedom to choose a hybrid approach where needed to meet exact requirements and build specifications.
Maximum quality with minimum disruption
The team at McAvoy meticulously planned the project, meeting with stakeholders twice weekly to schedule works and plan travel routes to enhance health and safety onsite.
Works started with the demolition of the school’s existing canopy and landscaping. The 56 modules used in the project were manufactured offsite whilst site works were happening simultaneously. 70% of the work was completed offsite, including concrete floors which were poured at McAvoy’s 70,000sq ft purpose-built manufacturing facility, all to optimise time spent on the site and minimise disruption to the school and local community. All 56 modules were installed within 2 weeks, outside of pedestrian only hours and with robust traffic management in place due to an extremely narrow access road.
The nature of the extension, led to McAvoy solving logistical issues including diverting utilities around the existing school to connect facilities such as sprinkler systems, ensuring the least possible disruption during school hours.
Local talent and supportÂ
Works at Lister Community Secondary School supported local employment and businesses. McAvoy collaborated with the local job centre to offer job opportunities to the local community, as well as apprenticeships and training.
McAvoy required all suppliers to advertise locally and to ensure all local businesses could provide competitive tenders, thorough training was provided. The team also promoted engagement with the local community, the school and education providers through the use of regular newsletters.
Undertaking Considerate Constructors Scheme practices throughout, McAvoy also engaged with the local community and pupils through student presentations to inspire careers in construction, facilitating collections for a local food bank, and donating surplus materials to the school following the completion.
Sustainability from start to finish
Sustainability was at the forefront of the design process. The project included PV panels on the roof and achieved a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM status.
McAvoy is also committed to recycling materials where possible to minimise waste to landfill, and 98% of project waste was diverted from landfill on this project
With meticulous planning, sustainability at its core, and a commitment to local employment, this project showcases McAvoy’s efficiency, excellence, exceptional quality, and community impact.