The building was designed around a courtyard arrangement with strong links to the surrounding landscape providing a safe non institutional environment.

The new facility provides six children’s bedrooms, family accommodation, activity areas, therapy areas, living rooms, staff areas and outdoor play areas. The building was constructed with a combination of traditional loadbearing masonry construction with timber roof trusses and glulam framed structures to the larger communal spaces.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Prior and during the contract works, relevant fundraising for the East Anglian Children’s Hospice took place. The aim for the Hospice to raise funds for the project build, by holding events such as a ‘Santa Run’ starting at Ipswich Marina and a charity cycle ride of which David Faichney; the project Contracts Manager entered. Site notice boards provided not only information about the build, but also an insight on fundraising events and achievements.

The fundraising and project build was promoted initially at the ground breaking ceremony, live on Radio Suffolk. A further live interview from Radio Suffolk with David Faichney; Contracts Manager and Mark Hart; Project Director was undertaken to discuss the build and its progression.

The project was registered under Considerate Constructors, and care was taken for local residents when accessing the site from St Augustine’s Gardens. Relevant newsletters were issued to the residents to inform them of the commencement of building works, and any particular elements of the project build which could be potentially noisy. Relevant hoarding and signage was placed around the site, illustrating the design of the project and also contact details of the Contracts Manager, should there be any issues raised by the residents.