St. Mark’s West Essex Catholic School – Gym Refurbishment

Key Facts:

Client Name: St. Mark’s West Essex Catholic School
Location: Harlow, Essex
Type of client: Education, Faith-led Secondary Academy
Discipline provided by M+C: Design (including M+E) | Procurement | Building Surveying | Project Management
Value: £165,000
Contractors: MT Build

St Mark’s is a successful mixed Catholic school for pupils ranging from Year 7 to Year 13. St. Mark’s occupies a significant site including some 12 acres in close proximity to Harlow Town Centre. The site comprises a number of blocks built throughout the past fifty years centering around the School Chapel. Naturally; the collection of building offer a selection of traditional teaching spaces as well as modern facilities built within more recent years.

The school has a range of PE and sports facilities, however the existing gymnasium was nearing the end of its useful life in its current format and required a significant refurbishment to ensure its continued use. As such a full gym refurbishment was undertaken, including a complete new flooring system, windows and equipment throughout.

The project offered the opportunity to make alterations to the wider facility, including the creation of new office accommodation for the PE staff, as well as the provision of a dedicated new multi-gym area.

Existing facilities were updated throughout the gym including the installation of a new floor and sports equipment. Additionally all of the changing facilities were updated with new toilets and showers throughout.

The significant scope of works generated a challenging programme, some of which had to be delivered during term-time, requiring careful planning in terms of moves and changes with minimal impact on teaching activities.

“The renewal of the gym has provided significant advantage to the school, providing alternative PE teaching space, along with the provision an updated fitness suite, toilets and changing areas”.

Munday + Cramer project manager