It’s been…. educational

Looking back to the beginning of the year, it seems like an age ago we were returning to work after the
Christmas festivities. It’s hard to believe we are approaching the half way mark already this year!
But this is not surprising given the variety of projects that we have worked on during the first five months.

Within the education sector we have produced a number of bills of quantities for school projects in Dorset
and London, as well as being involved in early stage cost planning for a number of proposed school
developments in East London. Project values range from around £1m up to £40m, so it would appear that
there is intent in the higher Government echelons to maintain, if not increase education capital expenditure.

Similarly in the Higher Education arena, we have continued to develop the masterplan cost for the
University of Winchester in conjunction with Design Engine Architects.
Projects include an extensive refurbishment of the Senior Management Team offices and an exciting
restaurant and social facility on the West Downs Campus. We have also continued to produce bills of
quantities for Overbury, for a top London University, with a strong bias on refurbishment and interior fit out.

Artists impression courtesy of Design Engine

Have the University tuition fees given academic institutions more funds to invest in their estates or has
student expectation increased?

Whilst we can never be 100% certain of what the future holds, the next six months is expected to continue
to be dominated by education work, certainly for Evolution5, and we look forward to more exciting challenges
that are synonymous with projects in this field.