School buildings
Schools delivered for the start of term
A classroom delivered on time means a school year that starts in good conditions. Our first public contract was a school: we know the constraints of these projects — the school calendar, remote sites, materials to transport, children's safety nearby.
01The needs we address
A school is first a place to learn: light, air, a roof that does not leak, decent sanitation and safe circulation.
- Create classrooms.
- Add an administrative block.
- Rehabilitate existing buildings.
- Build latrines.
02What we study
- a.The school calendar, which sets the useful delivery date.
- b.Site access and materials supply in remote communities.
- c.Functional layout: classrooms, administrative block, sanitation, yard.
- d.Daylight and cross-ventilation in classrooms.
- e.Separating the site from pupils when the school is operating.
03Technical scope
Functional planning
Layout of blocks, yard, sanitation and circulation, to approved drawings.
Durable structure
Foundations, masonry and roofing built to withstand rain and intensive use.
Light and air
Generous openings, protective verandas and natural ventilation.
Sanitation
Latrines and water points where provided for in the contract.
Accessible circulation
Ramps, verandas and safe paths for pupils and staff.
Finishes and external works
Joinery, electrical work, painting and external works.
04Execution sequence
- 01
Preparation
Schedule aligned with the school calendar; procurement.
- 02
Setting out
Block pegging and a site separated from pupils.
- 03
Foundations and structure
Earthworks, foundations, masonry.
- 04
Roofing and joinery
Weather-tight before the rainy season wherever possible.
- 05
Finishes
Electrical, painting, external works.
- 06
Acceptance
Provisional acceptance, guarantee, final acceptance.
05Interfaces
- School management and education authorities: uses and calendar.
- Supervising engineer: drawings and control.
- Local community: access, safety and labour.
- Acceptance committee.
06What we hand over
- Execution drawings
- Progress reports
- Provisional and final acceptance reports
07Preparing your project
The information that makes a first conversation genuinely useful:
- School location and access
- Number of classrooms and annexes
- Operating school or new site
- Existing drawings
- Target start-of-term date
- File stage
08References
09Frequently asked questions
Which school have you built?
Melan Ndong public school, in the Dja-et-Lobo: two blocks of three classrooms and an administrative block, provisional acceptance in September 2018 and final acceptance on 4 October 2019.
How do you keep to the school calendar?
By aligning the schedule with the start of term from the outset, anticipating materials supply and making buildings weather-tight early.
How do you keep pupils safe?
Through physical separation of the site, organised deliveries and rules set in the environmental and social management plan.
Do you build latrines?
Yes, where provided for in the contract, alongside classroom blocks.
Do you work on remote sites?
Yes. Rural schools often are: materials transport is planned from the start of works.
Do you rehabilitate existing buildings?
We consider requests to rehabilitate existing classrooms and blocks.
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