We work closely with academy’s, schools and trusts to develop projects that are in keeping with the needs of the schools and environment. This recent project is a good example where the school were keen to keep its school colours, while we also added contrasts to help the visually impaired students.
Push top taps to avoid wasted water also assist with the energy usage in the building, with all materials used being solid grade laminate, allowing for 25 years usage without the need for a full refurbishment in the near future. The walls were also white rocked as this reduces the need for painting every 5 years and keeps the walls looking fresh. Which the cleaning staff were more than happy to see, but also glad we carried on with the other toilet refurbishments we did in the building.
The existing hand dryer was also very loud, which we swapped out for a much quieter unit as this can cause distress to some children.
When we complete a refubishment we don’t see this as “finished” as we regularly engage and encourage feedback from all parties. As sometimes it may not be something direct but could become a lessons learned or a discussion piece. A good example of this was why hand dryers were used, the toilets were often getting blocked with hand towels. Removing them reduced waste and at the same time repairs and costs on the academy.
On any refurbishment we do, we also take into account a holistic approach. We want to be as comprehensive and waste reducing as possible. As an example here, we added in the lighting system as part of the project rather than it being an after thought or future project.
We want the outcome of our projects to be a sense of pride, not only for ourselves in the work we do and manage, but also creating environments the students and teachers are proud of.