Dual-Use Temporary Building at Trinity College Oxford
Trinity College Oxford say a dual purpose temporary structure built by Neptunus has provided a valuable space for students while a major new build programme is under way.
Trinity, one of the constituent colleges of Oxford University, appointed Neptunus to provide a temporary building which is being used as a library reading room and multi-functional room for two years. It will then be transformed into a kitchen, dining room and senior common room for the final year of the contract. The temporary building also incorporate toilets, offices and auxiliary spaces.
Trinity required the temporary space during construction of the Levine Building which will transform the college with new academic facilities and residential accommodation. The Levine Building project includes an auditorium, purpose-built teaching rooms, a community space and a new function room, as well as enhanced wheelchair access to the existing college library, new study space, 46 study bedrooms and a central administrative hub.
Justin Folliard, College Surveyor, says the temporary ‘Lawns Building’ was needed to accommodate a number of different uses across the whole project and that Neptunus provided Trinity with a flexible solution for the duration of the new build programme.
He said: “Our new Lawns Building has proved popular with students who started taking immediate advantage of the Reading Room as soon as it opened. We are delighted with the temporary space that Neptunus has created and very encouraged by how quickly it has become an integral feature of the college. When the Lawns Building is converted for a future scheme, where it will have a second life as a Dining Hall and Kitchen, we hope that it will prove even more popular.”
April Trasler, Managing Director of Neptunus, said: “We were delighted to have been selected to provide temporary facilities for such a high-profile institution while their long-term building programme is carried out.
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“Trinity College was particularly impressed by the flexibility of our multi-functional temporary structure technology and our ability to build it quickly and on a confined footprint. Indeed, when we first looked at the site it was a bit like a ‘ship in a bottle’ – difficult to see how we could get all the equipment and plant in to be able to build the structure, but our technicians worked wonders to make it all possible.”
A six-strong crew of Neptunus technicians took just two weeks to erect the 500 square metre Flexolution II temporary building. A further five weeks was required for the internal fit-out including stud walls, suspended ceiling, flooring, plumbing, electrics, heating, fire alarm systems and air conditioning.
The installation of the temporary building presented Neptunus’ technicians with a complicated logistical challenge. Situated in historic and beautiful grounds in the centre of Oxford, the access to the site was limited because of ornate listed gates at the entrance. Neptunus had to put special measures in places to deliver materials and used specialist plant and machinery during the build as they were unable to use standard cranes and fork-lift trucks.
