The major redevelopment of the Watford Campus, undertaken in a live and operational environment, provides state-of-the-art Further Education and Higher Education facilities for the local community.

Covering 20,000 sq m of new accommodation the scheme delivers improved facilities for teaching courses including literacy, language and numeracy skills, foundation programmes, computing skills and art, design and media courses. The project also provides a nursery, learning resource centre, and, a large internal courtyard, providing students with an open space for recreation.

The Evolve team have also delivered a number of Summer Works projects, Skills Centre and  works at the Hempstead Campus.

Key environmental features included in the Watford Campus redevelopment included:

  • A green roof provides an insulation layer, reducing heat gain in the summer & heat loss in the winter & protecting the roof membrane, extending its life & reducing maintenance.
  • Solar heating on the roof provides hot water for the building.
  • A biomass boiler supports four gas boilers.
  • Rainwater harvesting provides filtered water for toilet flushing.
  • The campus has also been designed to retain rainwater, delaying flow into the sewer system & so helping to reduce pressure on the sewer system during heavy rain.
  • Internal lighting has automatic switches, which are activated by ambient light levels & movement.
  • A brise soleil system provides solar shading for the street, atrium & refectory areas.

Evolve Services: Cost Management, CDM Co-ordination

Project Facts

  • Stakeholder engagement
  • LSC Funding
  • Extensive Value Engineering
  • Two Stage Design & Build
  • Environmental & Sustainability Issues
  • Planning conditions – cost options
  • De-cant solutions / cost exercises