Walthamstow Academy - Case Study
When Walthamstow Academy recognised the need for an integrated air conditioning solution for its flagship school, it turned to a company with a solid track record of successful installations. This company had the right level of technical ability, outstanding project management skills, and the capability to respond quickly and efficiently to customer requirements while being sufficiently flexible to adapt to changes in requirements.
The Project
To provide the most efficient method of cooling mixed-use rooms, including offices, classrooms, laboratories, and IT Suites, which are located over three floors and have a 12,000 square foot footprint. The project had an extremely tight schedule with the initial survey, all works, and final commissioning having to take place before students returned to class after the summer holiday.
The Timeline
15 June 2012
The Air Conditioning Company is contacted by the Academy and provided with a basic brief and a request to supply an initial quotation and summary detailing the works and equipment required.
Owing to the project's complexity and subsequent changes and additions to the original specification, several site visits and surveys were required, as well as ongoing consultation with the Academy and providers of the air conditioning hardware. The Air Conditioning Company maintains an excellent relationship with all its providers, working symbiotically to ensure that the best experts and advisors in the field are consulted where necessary to provide a correctly specified, smooth and trouble-free installation.
20 July 2012
A final quotation is provided showing two potential air conditioning solutions along with details of all equipment, time scales and costs as well as information relating to tax-efficient financing options should they be required.
Our quote was accepted on the same day with a request for works to commence at the earliest possible opportunity.
Within ten days of receiving the go-ahead from our client, The Air Conditioning Company, working closely with a select group of preferred suppliers and the provider of the air conditioning equipment had arranged for the following:
- 23 indoor air conditioning units including ceiling cassettes and wall mounts to be on delivery standby with the manufacturer
- 13 outdoor units including complex VRF units designed to provide power and cooling to multiple indoor units to be delivered to site
- Crane-hire services
- Two dedicated teams of engineers
A time-line of works to ensure that all consumables and ancillaries, including approximately 1000 metres of copper pipe, are pre-ordered and timed to arrive on site only when required to avoid the need for large storage on site.
In addition to the above, a full Risk Assessment and Method Statement was provided to the school to comply with the Academy’s own Health & Safety requirements.
As the project had to be completed before the start of the new school term, working regular hours would not be sufficient; the Air Conditioning Company therefore arranged for the engineers to work extended hours and weekends.
30 August 2012
All units are installed, tested and commissioned. A final inspection of the installation by the manufacturer allows The Air Conditioning to provide a five year warranty on all the equipment.
Summary
- The entire installation was completed on schedule and within budget
- A zero accident and injury rate was maintained
- The client was sufficiently impressed with the works that upon completion of the project, they immediately confirmed that we would be asked to submit a proposal for the next stage of Academy building improvements