We also constructed extensions to the north and west elevations, and a new third floor to the building to provide additional bedrooms, apartments, and communal areas. The completed scheme provides accommodation for 77 students.

To ensure that the adjoining New Garden Hostel remained operational throughout construction we undertook enabling works, including isolation and diversion of services. This included the diversion of a GBN cable around the whole site to ensure that connectivity was not affected by the works. Delivered during the challenging COVID 19 pandemic, we were able to handover for January 2020 despite significant delays to site operations following national lockdowns.

“During the tendering process Barnes stood out as the company who demonstrated a very clear understanding of the brief, and delivered a proposal that was competitive, realistic and was supported by a clear declaration of the structure of the team who would deliver and those they would work with. It gave confidence to King’s College. The site set up was professionally established, and from there Barnes did not waiver from the programme, accepting emerging issues (such as the identification of significant amounts of asbestos in the building, hitherto not anticipated), and they identified workarounds that could be exploited to reduce extensions to the programme. They look well ahead, and are very aligned to supply chains and critical paths, and in doing so were able to flag up design issues very early, and work to any amendments. The Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 presented exceptional circumstances, yet Barnes were able to return to site as early as possible, and quickly introduce safe working practices. While time was inevitably lost, they have worked closely with College, the Project Team and sub-contractors to identify imaginary ways of clawing back lost time. Barnes have worked extremely hard to remain within construction costs, and have worked in a very collaborative manner with the Project Team to identify pragmatic solutions that keep the programme on track and within cost (with agreed variations). It has been an absolute pleasure working with Barnes, they demonstrate a very positive and can do attitude and approach, and I do look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Philip Isaac, Domus Bursar, King’s College