Charterhouse Square School
Located next to Barbican Station, Charterhouse Square School has been transformed to provide a modern educational environment for children from nursery through to primary age. The project brought together the refurbishment of the existing school with the conversion of neighbouring office buildings into additional school accommodation. By connecting three separate buildings, the scheme created a cohesive extension to the school, increasing its capacity while making effective use of the existing urban fabric. The result is a renewed and expanded learning environment designed around the needs of pupils and staff.
The existing Charterhouse Square buildings were originally constructed to be townhouses in the early 1700’s, the historic nature of the buildings plus there tight location backing on to the Barbican train station provided a level of complexity that needed careful consideration by the team. Further to these risks, the existing school that sat within 40 Charterhouse Square remained active throughout the works, this needed careful logistics and site practice to enable the initial phase of altering the existing office building next door into an educational facility. Cognita had a tight deadline in completing these works as they had an immediate requirement for additional school spaces for the next academic year. Following the completion of 38-39 Charterhouse Square and the opening to pupils on time, the works then moved into the second and more heavily structural phase of converting the office space in 33-37 Charterhouse Square into further classrooms and dining space, this phase included a new core through the building and creation of a roof terrace that can be utilised by the school as outdoor space plus full MEP fit out, again works were completed for occupation by the School by the start of the new academic year.
The project was procured through a two-stage procurement process and was completed in Summer 2023. The completed school provides accommodation for children from nursery through to primary age, combining refurbished spaces with newly created teaching and ancillary areas within the existing buildings.
Quantem’s role on Charterhouse Square School
Our team provided Quantity Surveying services throughout the project, supporting the client and wider design team from procurement through to completion. Our responsibilities included cost planning, cost reporting, procurement advice, tendering and commercial management across the refurbishment, office conversions, building connections, new M&E installations and stair relocations. Working within an existing and constrained urban environment, we provided the cost control and commercial oversight required to deliver the expanded school successfully through a two-stage procurement process.
Client
Cognita
ROLE/S
Cost Management
Location
London, United Kingdom
Completion date
August 2023
