St Peter's School, St Albans

The expansion of St Peters Primary in St Albans saw the erection of a new standalone timber/SIPS framed building, plus extensive remodelling and renovation works within the existing to provide new Early Years facilities and a larger dining area.

Reconfiguring the existing layouts enabled the school to make better use of the available space, increasing both teaching and circulation areas and providing the school with an enlarged dining area. To minimise disruption to the school’s activities, the renovation element was programmed to run over the summer holidays, supplemented by undertaking as much preparation work as possible at weekends to reduce the holiday programme pressure.

Located adjacent to a conservation area and bounded by the River Ver, it was imperative that the building design, and the manner in which the works were undertaken, remained sensitive to the constraints placed on them by the local authority and the Environmental Agency. To accommodate their requirements, changes were made during the project to the facade cladding and the drainage system designs.

The works continued throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and, with the Client’s agreement, Apex used the opportunity to undertake the refurbishment works within the existing building during the school shutdown.

Works completed ready for the planned September 2020 intake.