The Downs National School

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This project, part of a pilot programme to be extended across many other primary and secondary schools in the future, comprised of two goals — retrofit and extend, according to nZEB standards.

The recently completed project consisted of a low-energy retrofit of the existing 3-classroom school (254msq), and the construction of an adjoining single storey 4-classroom extension to the existing school (441msq).

The existing school building which consisted of a three classroom Boyd Barrett School dating from 1934, with small extensions carried out in 1960, transformed into a top-rated energy-efficient nZEB class building.

Follow link below for more information on the passive construction products used; supplied by our technical partners Partel:

https://www.partel.ie/news/811/the-downs-national-school-transformed-into-toprated-energyefficient-building

Portlaoise Train Wash Building

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Works involved the construction of a 270m2 steel framed train wash facility in the Iarnród Éireann train care depot in Portlaoise. The wash equipment was provided by the client and we co ordinated the installation with the nominated supplier. Works included the disassembly of existing steel wash structures and removal of structural steel beams and single skin cladding from old train wash.

 

Client: Iarnród Éireann

Project: Construction of train wash facility, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Leitrim N.S Carpark and Underpass

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Construction of a 2,000m2 carpark and entrance road opposite the national school. Including site clearance, bulk excavation, drainage, services, lighting, fencing and macadam surfacing. Work also included the design and installation of 15m precast concrete box underpass with reinforced concrete ramps, railings at both ends beneath the R351 beside Leitrim National School to facilitate child safety.

 

Client: Leitrim N.S Board of Management

Consultants: RPS Consulting Engineers

 

Washrooms, Retail Unit and Showers, Dublin Airport

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The works involved closing of gates 115/116 to allow us to set up our site & site compound. This involves erecting hoarding to prevent public access to our site, while making temporary corridors for access to arrivals hall.

The new washrooms and retail unit are to facilitate for WP3, a new departures lounge which is being constructed next to our site. Both WP3 and WP4 are to be completed simultaneously for opening.

The existing toilets were demolished along with some inbound corridors. New toilets/WC facilities and a retail unit was constructed which include new connections to existing sewer lines on the ramp. Two New inbound corridors were also constructed for inbound passengers from gates 113, 116 & 118.

A complete new electrical and mechanical fit out was installed as part of the works incorporating the new washroom and retail units as well as the new passenger inward gates/corridors.

These works were carried out over a 14 week programme under three different phases which are time critical as certain sections of the works area were required for public use during peak dates.

The works involved demolition of two no. existing search rooms for customs officers on the first floor of the Aer Lingus Cargo 1 Building as well as a small locker room. Two larger search rooms were constructed in this space utilising some office space that was only being used to store documents etc. These were fitted out with Custom built Stainless steel search tables and hi spec safe and cctv systems. Also a new locker room with male and female shower facilities were constructed to cater for customs staff.

Client: DAA

Project: WP4 Pier 1 Washrooms and Retail Unit and Cargo 1 Custom Showers, Dublin Airport

4 Classroom Extension & Refurbishment, Aughrim

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This project consists of the construction of a 4 classroom extension and extensive refurbishment of the existing school building including new reinforced concrete floors, complete new roof and M&E fit out as well as all new internal finishes. The school will have 4 large classrooms, resource room, learning support room, staff room, head office, toilets, shared space, internal and external link corridors between old and new sections, a paved outdoor courtyard, tarmacadam basketball court and extended car park with public lighting. This project aims to achieve very high energy efficiency and is employing numerous construction methods to achieve this, such as 230mm external rockwool insulation with an acrylic plaster finish. It also has triple glazed Alu-Clad windows and a light weight, warm toof make up consisting of a mechanically fixed rubber membrane roof finish with 440mm metac wool insulation between prefabricated timber trusses overlaid with mineral fibre wood insulation board and breather membrane. The school will also have independent heat recovery ventilation systems for each classroom and 18 nr. PV solar panels, generating renewable power for the school. The school aims to be one of the first NZEB (Near Zero Energy Building) rated schools in the country. We will also be installing a rain water harvesting tank, which collects rainwater from the new roof for re use within the school to flush toilets and reduce the school’s water costs.

 

Client: Board of Management, St.Catherine’s N.S

Project: Construction of a 4 classroom extension and refurbishment of existing school

Installation of I-Lofar System, Birr

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I-Lofar is the Irish element of a European wide network of radio telescopes. As part of our contract we carried out the civil works including earth moving 10,000m3 of material to create the base for the radio antennas. We carried out the installation of new mains ESB cables, including provision of a new ESB substation on site. We carried out installation of ducting and chambers to enable provision of a 1TB high speed internet connection. We installed concrete foundations for the new telemetry equipment. We carried out all the grading of the surfaces to +/- 3cm RMS and liaised with the Dutch contractors Astrotec to convert co ordinates from ETRS to ITM format for the accurate setting out of the station. We facilitated the stakeholders in allowing access to the site for training and research purposes and expanded our role as PSCS to cater for additional safety briefings and liaised with various agencies to ensure safe operation of the site at all times. We provided machinery and trained operatives for the installation of the radio antennas. We provided new site boundary fencing, we landscaped some 8,000m2 and topsoiled a further 12,000m2.

 

Client: Trinity College

Project: Enabling and civil works for the installation of I-Lofar system, Birr Castle, Co. Offaly

Embankment Stabilisation Works, Sixmilebridge

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Clear away existing overgrowth and vegetation, construct new gravel haul road along bottom of existing embankment, install stone gabion baskets to bottom of embankment to help stabilise existing embankment. Back fill with broken stone to aid drainage, install fin drains to assist embankment drainage and pipe out to existing stream. Supply and install new boundary fencing to Irish Rail specification.

 

Client: Irish Rail

Project: Embankment stabilisation works, Mile Post 11 1/4 Sixmilebridge

Warehouse Refurbishment Shannon, Co. Clare

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Warehouse refurbishment, to include demolish and reconstruct revised stud layouts, remove existing floor finishes and carry out repairs to existing concrete floor prior to new floor finishes being applied. Complete re wire including new burglar and fire alarm systems. Service and repair existing roller shutter doors, refurbish existing toilet block and install new sanitary ware and postform untis. New glass screens, new carpets, repair and clean exisiting windows, clean external facade, remove and re lay external paving driveways and walkways.

 

Client: Shannon Commercial Properties

Project: Unit 6/7 Enabling Works, Shannon Freezone West

Portlaoise Junction Improvements

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This contract involved the upgrade & enhancement of the existing junctions along the N80 & R445 with Block Road, South Circular Road and Fielbrook Road. The improvement works to the junctions included upgrading of pedestrian and cycle facilities. The works also included the construction of new urban roundabouts. The works will involved raised pedestrian crossings and modified horizontal and vertical alignment. The works also involved traffic calming ramps along local estates. Works on the N80 involved construction of new roundabouts at the N80 & Block Rd Junction and N80 and South Circular Road Junction. Works on the R445 Dublin Road involved new macadam roundabout at the R445 & Fielbrook Road Junction and Realignment of the Block Rd & R445 Junction at the Midlands Hospital prior to installation of new roundabout. Works at all junctions involved new kerbing, ducting & drainage, public lighting, road construction, road resurfacing, concrete & macadam footpaths and pedestrian crossings. This Project was carried out on extremely busy roads and required a very high level of phasing & coordination of the works in order to progress the works as efficiently as possible while minimising impact on traffic. Works on the N80 required completion prior to local schools reopening in September. We Designed & Implemented a Traffic & pedestrian Management plan for each phase of the works in order to achieve this. Traffic Volumes on both theN80 & R445 were 16,000 AADT Works also included the demolition of existing blockwork boundary wall at HSE Regional Hospital and setting back & reinstating further into HSE property to allow widening and realignment of Block Rd & R445 Junction. Works involved removal, restoration and re erection of cast iron railing to the top of the wall which required reworking to suit new radius.

Firhouse Temporary Primary Schools

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This project consisted of the construction of 2nr. 4 classroom temporary primary schools for the Department of Education and Skills on a green field site in Firhouse Co. Dublin. The works comprised of site development and the construction, installation, fit out and commissioning of 2 single storey blocks each containing 4 classrooms, staff offices, resource room, reception, canteen, lobby, corridor and plant room.

We undertook Role of PSCS & Main Contractor for the Works. The project was accelerated on to a rapid build programme as the client required the schools to be operational by September to take in 120 pupils. We commenced works onsite in late May and successfully completed the works in under 16 weeks.

The Temporary School Buildings were constructed using a modular design which enabled the steel frame structure, external and internal walls, roof and floor to be constructed offsite and thus fast tracking the construction process as they were being fabricated simultaneously with the foundations and groundworks ongoing in site. The 12m x 3m building units were delivered to site and installed with a 80Tn mobile Crane. These units were bolted together and internally finished onsite with a full mechanical & Electrical fit out including a PA address system, automated door entry, fire alarm, CCTV, class call system, intercom access, as well as internal doors, ironmongery & joinery, internal painting, polyflor welded vinly floor finish, suspended ceiling, fixtures and fittings.

Aside from the 2 school buildings the works included service installation & connection to Water, Telecoms, Foul Sewer and Drainage, Site clearance and bulk excavation of 3200 m3 of soil, Construction of 200m RC retaining wall with a cranked post welded mesh fence installed on top, construction of a new access road, staff car park and associated footpaths as well as landscaping, perimeter fence and 2 nr. tarmacadam play areas

 

 

Kildare Village Phase 2 – Sheet Piling Works

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This Project involved the Installation of 120m of MX7 Sheet Piles ranging from 6m – 7.5m in length in order to facilitate the construction of a service road around the perimeter of the new shopping facility development. The Sheet Piles propose was to retain the soil outside of the site boundary and allow the service road to be constructed  allowing maximum use of the available development space. The Piles were installed using a Movax SP 50E Vibratory Piling Hammer and a CX210 Excavator. Once erected and clutched  in place a Muller MS-6 HFB was used to drive the piles down to Design Level.

Ashbank Embankment Stabilisation, Inch, Co. Wexford

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This Project involved the installation of 6m long hot rolled steel Z – section AZ-12-770 sheet piles either side of a 120m section of railway track on the Wexford – Dublin Line. The Works were carried out in order to stabilise the embankment which was at risk to subsidence. The works included the installation of a 305x305x97 Wailer beam to the back of sheet piles at a depth of 1.5m below track level, with both sides then being tied together with 63.5mm tie rods, anchor plates and lock nuts.

The Works were carried out during TIII Night time Rail line possessions in order to allow the rail line to remain operational for duration of the works. This required a high level of planning and organisational work to ensure all resources and materials were in place to carry out the work over such a short working time period. There was also a live fibre optic cable running through the work site which had to be exposed, relocated and protected for the duration of the works before being reinstated after the piling works had been completed.

As part of this project the The Railway track was monitored on an on-going basis by carrying out daily track monitoring surveys using a total station to read targets installed at 3m centres along railway track in ensure there was no movement of the track as a result of the piling activities. This monitoring ensured the rail line was safe and fit for purpose and could be kept fully operational with no disturbance to train movements and their passengers.