Member Article

Pioneering use of technology saves time in Holyhead school construction

Use of cutting edge technology has already saved time in the construction of Holyhead’s new £9m school.

Cloud-based digital surveying, carried out by the Bodelwyddan contractor Wynne Construction, identified a 75mm misalignment in a wall within the existing Grade II listed building.

This enabled amendments to the design of the steel frame prior to fabrication and installation at the site of the Old Cybi School site in Holyhead.

The project includes remodeling of the listed building and construction of a two-storey extension to provide modern school facilities and resources.

The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies and processes enables the reduction of waste and saves time by creating a 3D virtual model of the building.

Wynne Construction is also working with Anglesey Council and their North Wales-based supply chain partners, to gather within the BIM software information such as design specification and materials, that will help keep on-going maintenance costs down.

Wynne Construction is believed to be the first North Wales-based company to apply BIM technology on the design and build project.

Work started in January to build Ysgol Cybi Primary School. It will eventually replace three schools in the town – Ysgol Llaingoch, Ysgol y Parc and Ysgol Parchedig Thomas Elis. The new school should be ready by Spring 2017.

Managing director, Chris Wynne, said: “We’re pleased that BIM has already proved valuable by highlighting clash detections within existing walls before construction started. It’s helped prevent delays to the programme of works.”

He added that Wynne was also proud to be an early adopter of BIM technologies.

“We know one or two other firms in north Wales who are using BIM for clash detection and co-ordination during planning and construction.

“But we understand we are the first company of our size in North Wales to take BIM this step further to create a shared knowledge resource to help keep running costs down during the lifespan of the building.”

Anglesey Council spokesman Gareth Thomas said: “The New Ysgol Cybi Primary School Project will be the first BIM project for the authority.

“It has been a new learning experience to deliver an excellent collaborative working opportunity and project delivery solution on the first of many 21st Century Schools projects.

“Using BIM will greatly benefit the whole life asset management of the school with regard to its operation and maintenance.”

The school has been partly funded by the Welsh Government through the 21st Century Schools Programme, and is part of the Welsh Government’s £200 million Schools and Public Buildings Contractor Framework for North Wales.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .