ISG Jackson - General Development - Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Date: 04 Jun 2008

ISG Jackson has commenced work on a £3.7 million project with Cambridgeshire County Council to carry out the first phase of the redevelopment of Linton Village College. The community college's former Information and Communication Technology (ICT) suite has already been demolished to make way for the construction of a new gymnasium and three-storey teaching accommodation, along with a single-storey drama studio.

The site has a rich and varied past and before work commenced on site, a number of excavations were carried out by the council's archaeological unit, which have yielded an amazing array of important finds. Archaeologists have recovered finds from the Neolithic period (over 2500 years old), as well as a number of Roman graves and artefacts, including five human burials and a complete horse skeleton. Archaeologists will keep a watching brief on the site throughout the duration of the project to record and remove any interesting finds uncovered as building work continues.

Ground works for the steel frame building have now started, with the new structure located to the centre of the college grounds and linking together existing buildings on site - providing an extension to the sports centre, Technology Block and Music Block. The new link building incorporates a food technology laboratory and offices on the ground floor, with seven science laboratories across the upper two levels, which also feature glazed observation galleries into the new gymnasium.

Providing capacity for two multi-purpose indoor courts, the new gymnasium also features male and female changing areas and a large store area. Externally, ISG Jackson will also install pre-tensile fabric canopies, projecting from the new building's façade, to provide a covered walkway onto the college's commemorative memorial garden. Work on the new building is scheduled for completion by April 2009.

Ian Gifford, director of ISG Jackson's Public division, commented: "Linton Village College is typical of the challenging breed of contracts that ISG Jackson continues to secure due to our impressive project delivery credentials across complex and busy live sites. By working closely with our clients and adopting flexible working practices, we develop and implement robust site processes and procedures specifically aligned to individual clients' needs. This tailored approach is essential in minimising disruption and ensuring continuity for clients unable to vacate premises during construction work."

Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Construction Newsletter » Submit news