This project was a Geoenvironmental Assessment of existing primary/junior school sites to allow redevelopment and extension.
ESP were employed to undertake a series of five geoenvironmental investigations throughout Cardiff as part of the councils plans to amalgamate primary and junior schools across the county. The amalgamations project was aimed at providing a better education for school users and ensuring feasible class sizes.
As part of the project, the schools required a significant development programme, with all sites requiring extension buildings and refurbishment in order to appropriately serve the school users.
Each site presented its own unique conditions, and constraints. In particular, working within the confines of a school presents its own problems and the excavation of soil samples holes required clean and efficient working systems to be adopted in order to maintain a safe school environment.
Site investigations were undertaken in the form of desk studies to assess the history, and windowless sample holes, trial pits and laboratory testing to establish the interpreted geoenvironmental and geotechnical status of the sites. Soakaway testing in line with BRE 365 was also undertaken to assess the potential for BREEAM compliancy.
Following reporting, all sites were confirmed suitable redevelopment as school buildings.
