Bishop Auckland College

Project

9,200m² of new teaching accommodation over three floors around a central ‘street’; demolition of old main building.
Faithful+Gould appointed as cost managers for the whole scheme.

Two stage JCT ’98 contract without quantities within a bespoke Incentivised Partnering Agreement.
Contractor appointed at an early stage.
Management of risks: identification, quantification, mitigation.
Sustainability principles with BREEAM ratings considered from inception and incorporated into the fundamental engineering and design strategies.

The brief required the building to make a design statement with striking features, use of materials and exceptional functional suitability within LSC area guidelines.
The continuity of college operations and safety for all was of paramount importance.
Faithful+Gould required to manage the traditional contractual cost and risk elements, but also to take an active role in business case preparations, procurement recommendations, brief development and option appraisals, particularly for the logistical side of both phases.
Numerous changes to the spec/design – all difficult, but managed within budget.

The procurement method worked well – Bishop Auckland College was described as an exemplar project.
The project received a commendation at the North East Construction Excellence awards in the Collaborative Working category.
In terms of health and safety, the project was undertaken without incident.
Project completed in April 2007 and the buildings opened to students a month later, 8 weeks ahead of programme and within budget.