Evolution5 appointed for a new church building
Evolution5 was appointed to provide construction management, quantity surveying and site management services for the construction of a new church building at St Michael’s School, Burghclere, Berkshire.
The purpose-built church is located on the site of St Michael’s School, replacing the existing makeshift chapel, which has stood on the site for twenty years.
Design image provided and used with the kind permission of Morse Webb Architects
The stunning new St. Michael Archangel Church designed by Morse Webb Architects is of Romanesque proportions, faced in red brick to complement the existing school buildings. Structural engineering specialists Scott White and Hookins provided structural advice, design and specifications to the project, which has the capacity for a congregation of around 240 and boasts a large windowed narthex (“cry room”). The sanctuary is large enough for a Solemn High Mass, is flanked by two chapels and has a large wrap-around sacristy. Outside, the surrounding land is beautifully landscaped and incorporates church parking along with a new school drop-off point.
As the church is located next to an operational school site with which it shares an entrance, safeguarding was a paramount consideration throughout the project. The site had numerous buried Utility Services to be managed within the project, along with challenges arising from restricted site access.
Drawing on our extensive experience in delivering education and ecclesiastical projects, Evolution5 provided construction management, cost management and site management services to ensure the project was completed to the client’s requirements for a high-quality building within limited budget constraints.
The project design commenced in December 2020, with construction on site starting in the summer of 2022. The project was completed in the late summer of 2023.
St Michael’s Church Case Study
The Requirement
Evolution5 collaborated with the project architect, the school, and the diocese to undertake the construction of a new church adjacent to an operational school. Maintaining the school’s continuous functionality throughout the build process was a key requirement of the project, which involved coordinating a diverse mix of specialist trades contractors to execute essential elements of this significant place of worship, emphasising the intricacy and collaborative effort needed for the successful delivery of the church.
The client commented that Evolution5 had far exceeded expectations.
The Challenges
We came across some challenges with the project and the major ones are listed below:
- Poor ground conditions.
- Poor ground drainage.
- Restricted site.
- Clients were on site and the school was in operation.
The Solution
During the project construction, we faced several challenges. However, we managed to overcome them by maintaining regular communication with the client. Our consistent site visits and detailed reports enabled us to address and resolve issues effectively.
With the challenges above are some of the solutions we used
- Due to ground conditions, we increased the depth of the foundations.
- Due to the poor drainage, we installed a new soak-away.
- We also connected all new drainage to the existing drainage system.
Project Successes
Key project successes include:
- The project was completed on time and within budget.
- The client’s feedback was very positive.
- Maintaining regular communication with the client.
- Zero disruption to the parish & local village.
- Zero disruption to private school on site.