Mulberry Academy
London
The Client
Barker Associates is one of the country’s leading education property consultants. They play a proactive role in assisting pre-schools, primary, secondary and free schools, as well as academies, colleges and universities. They gain funding from various available streams and subsequently manage their property portfolio. One of their clients is Mulberry Academy in Shoreditch, London, part of Mulberry Schools Trust. This Multi-Academy Trust is a flourishing collaboration of schools and partners, focusing on delivering high-quality provision for local families in Tower Hamlets and East London.
The Project
Before this particular project, Barker Associates and Starfish Construction had worked in partnership on several other successful project deliveries. Barker Associate’s surveyor gave an initial brief to one of our senior project managers, outlining that the main assembly hall flat roofs and the Science and Technical blocks required refurbishment. The initial brief and quote request asked for a strip and replacement of the entire roof system.
Starfish Construction applies a Diagnose, Design and Deliver approach to all of our projects, which allows us to assess any project fully, providing feedback from our technical survey results, before starting any project. An initial drone survey and moisture mapping assessment revealed that the roof was suitable for an overlay system rather than a full strip.
- Moisture mapping survey results gave the client critical insight
- Reduced environmental waste
- 20-year warranty with a life expectancy of 30 years plus
- Works carried out while the school building was in use
- Completed on time, October 2020
- Full Built Up Felt Roof system – Hybrid liquid system to plant area
£385,000
Value
12 Weeks
Duration
2,000 m2
Area
Challenges and Solutions
Starfish Construction upgraded the insulation to meet current U-values and identified a missing lightning protection system on the roofs. Our approach of using a built-up overlay system resulted in a significant reduction in landfill material disposal, which is one of the benefits of overlay versus full roof material strip.
As we carried out works on this project during term-time, we had to take additional safety measures to ensure that no debris fell from the roof into the school grounds. Due to the buildings’ layout, we were working in a very restricted operation and storage space. With our previous working relationship with Barker’s and close liaison with the school, we delivered a seamless and safe project outcome.
The sizeable 2,000 m2 roofing area included several challenging to reach sections. Some areas where felt would have been difficult to lay down securely, meant using a hybrid system between a liquid-applied membrane and a fully built up felt roofing system. This mixed solution has been a very successful process for Starfish Construction on many projects.
Outcome
We have provided the end-user, Mulberry School, and our surveying client, Barkers Associates, with a new robust roofing system that will be safe and easy to maintain for many years to come. The roofing system backed by a 20-year warranty has a life expectancy of over 30 years, ensuring comfortable schooling across generations to come.
Having worked with Starfish Construction on several previous projects, I had no hesitation in contacting them to support us at Mulberry School. My faith was justified when they identified that there wasn’t any need for a full strip and replacement, instead, guiding us towards an effective and cost-saving overlay solution.
I would also like to personally thank everyone involved in the project for ensuring a smooth and successful delivery.
Calum Torpey BSc (Hons), Surveyor, Barker Associates
