NEW BUILD NEWS TEAM 15-16
We are a group of six 3rd year pupils.
Our team is made up of:
Lauren B, Anna R, Sean McP, Naomi B, Amy M and Leigh H.
As one of our skills option, we take part in a journalism course under the supervision of the librarian Miss Owens and deputy head Mrs Anderson.
We report the progress of the new KEIR build on this page. The plans for the school build are looking futuristic without losing the traditional touch of patriotic Troon.
Our aim is to get as many people informed with interesting news as possible
Our team is made up of:
Lauren B, Anna R, Sean McP, Naomi B, Amy M and Leigh H.
As one of our skills option, we take part in a journalism course under the supervision of the librarian Miss Owens and deputy head Mrs Anderson.
We report the progress of the new KEIR build on this page. The plans for the school build are looking futuristic without losing the traditional touch of patriotic Troon.
Our aim is to get as many people informed with interesting news as possible
Interview with Martin Logan, QS. 21st Oct
On Friday we interviewed Martin and asked him some questions about the new build. He had really helpful answers!! So we asked him about the budget, about being on the site and things about the project.
How do you know if there are too many people in the one place? You would normally know when you walked in, by clearly seeing too many people in the one place.
Have you stuck to your budget? Yes, so far
Have you had to change any dates for when the build will be finished? No it’s on phase 2 which will hopefully be finished for Christmas
How many people are working on the build? 200 on any given day, the most they’ve had is 220
Are there any penalty clauses if the build isn’t completed in time? Yes there is but they will hopefully be finished in time so we haven’t incurred any yet.
Is there any idea of how much the full build will cost? £34 million
Do you get the materials for the build locally? Depends what material. We use Hillhouse quarry in Dundonald for most of the stone and Rainbow Glass in Prestwick for the stained glass. We rely on local businesses to keep costs as low as possible and ensure delivery is fast and efficient.
Is the work force from the local area or are they from various others like European countries? A lot of them are local
What is the roof on the learning plaza made of? ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene). The roof gets blown up with air and it is very strong. Martin said that it could hold the weight of a car!!
How are the boys urinals laid out? One large or individual? They will be separate cubicles but they don’t know if it will be unisex or a toilet for the boys and a toilet for the girls
Will the roof discolour like the link corridor?
Definitely not
Can you shed some light on the recent reported incident?
A bolt on one of the joints between the link connecting the new buildling to the old buldling sheared off. No-one was injured and an independant investigation is taking place.
The interview took place in the library and it took about 30/40 mins
How do you know if there are too many people in the one place? You would normally know when you walked in, by clearly seeing too many people in the one place.
Have you stuck to your budget? Yes, so far
Have you had to change any dates for when the build will be finished? No it’s on phase 2 which will hopefully be finished for Christmas
How many people are working on the build? 200 on any given day, the most they’ve had is 220
Are there any penalty clauses if the build isn’t completed in time? Yes there is but they will hopefully be finished in time so we haven’t incurred any yet.
Is there any idea of how much the full build will cost? £34 million
Do you get the materials for the build locally? Depends what material. We use Hillhouse quarry in Dundonald for most of the stone and Rainbow Glass in Prestwick for the stained glass. We rely on local businesses to keep costs as low as possible and ensure delivery is fast and efficient.
Is the work force from the local area or are they from various others like European countries? A lot of them are local
What is the roof on the learning plaza made of? ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene). The roof gets blown up with air and it is very strong. Martin said that it could hold the weight of a car!!
How are the boys urinals laid out? One large or individual? They will be separate cubicles but they don’t know if it will be unisex or a toilet for the boys and a toilet for the girls
Will the roof discolour like the link corridor?
Definitely not
Can you shed some light on the recent reported incident?
A bolt on one of the joints between the link connecting the new buildling to the old buldling sheared off. No-one was injured and an independant investigation is taking place.
The interview took place in the library and it took about 30/40 mins
Building Update Sept 2016
What we are looking forward to most...
Having visited the new build twice, we have all had a chance to think about what we are looking forward to most when the building is completed. here are our thoughts.
I’m looking forward to the new social areas in the school. I’m looking forward to this because just now there is only a couple of social areas which are the canteen and the paved area.
I’m looking forward to all the new snack bars and places to get food because there is only one place just now and its always really crowded.
I’m also looking forward to the new state of the art technology and facilities. Sean
The building has come on very well, from the windows being putting in to the full building been put up. The windows have been polished and so has the rest of the building, I am looking forward to the new art department and the lockers that you get all to yourself. I’m sure it will be very good looking and it will attract more pupils to join the school. There will be a new lunch hall where people can relax and forget about their work for an hour or so. The science labs will have brand new equipment. Anna
In the new school there will be a lot of new things. In the new school there will be different walk ways, a different cafeteria, social areas to sit, there will be a lovely new library and most of all! The lovely new classrooms. Classrooms for practical work and work were you just write for the period. Well… Everyone is looking forward to new things in the school but to be honest I am just very excited for it all to happen! The classrooms are going to be all nice and new the canteen is going to be good and especially the different social areas so the canteen isn’t so busy, and the different classrooms for practical and just writing it’s just going to be so nice and different I just can’t wait till it all happens I’m really excited!! Amy
What I like about the new building is that how many glass windows are in the building to bring light into the building. There are going to have lockers with access only by the student and office staff. The old classrooms have been fully renovated and are now bright and feel much bigger with the white walls. Naomi
Regarding the new school, I am most looking forward to having individual lockers, as it wouldn’t be necessary to carry heavy things around all day. It would also be beneficial if you forget things like P.E kit often, you could leave it in your locker overnight.
I am also looking forward to the new library as it looks like a welcoming social area, and everything will be freshly organised. (Not that the library isn’t like this already, it’s just an upgrade from what already is nearly perfect.) Lauren
Looking forward to the new art department. I like painting.
I am looking forward to being in the new classrooms with all my friends.
We will have new café areas where we can have lunch.
There will be a big modern computer suite where I can work on my powerpoint presentations about what I study in school. Leigh
I’m looking forward to the new social areas in the school. I’m looking forward to this because just now there is only a couple of social areas which are the canteen and the paved area.
I’m looking forward to all the new snack bars and places to get food because there is only one place just now and its always really crowded.
I’m also looking forward to the new state of the art technology and facilities. Sean
The building has come on very well, from the windows being putting in to the full building been put up. The windows have been polished and so has the rest of the building, I am looking forward to the new art department and the lockers that you get all to yourself. I’m sure it will be very good looking and it will attract more pupils to join the school. There will be a new lunch hall where people can relax and forget about their work for an hour or so. The science labs will have brand new equipment. Anna
In the new school there will be a lot of new things. In the new school there will be different walk ways, a different cafeteria, social areas to sit, there will be a lovely new library and most of all! The lovely new classrooms. Classrooms for practical work and work were you just write for the period. Well… Everyone is looking forward to new things in the school but to be honest I am just very excited for it all to happen! The classrooms are going to be all nice and new the canteen is going to be good and especially the different social areas so the canteen isn’t so busy, and the different classrooms for practical and just writing it’s just going to be so nice and different I just can’t wait till it all happens I’m really excited!! Amy
What I like about the new building is that how many glass windows are in the building to bring light into the building. There are going to have lockers with access only by the student and office staff. The old classrooms have been fully renovated and are now bright and feel much bigger with the white walls. Naomi
Regarding the new school, I am most looking forward to having individual lockers, as it wouldn’t be necessary to carry heavy things around all day. It would also be beneficial if you forget things like P.E kit often, you could leave it in your locker overnight.
I am also looking forward to the new library as it looks like a welcoming social area, and everything will be freshly organised. (Not that the library isn’t like this already, it’s just an upgrade from what already is nearly perfect.) Lauren
Looking forward to the new art department. I like painting.
I am looking forward to being in the new classrooms with all my friends.
We will have new café areas where we can have lunch.
There will be a big modern computer suite where I can work on my powerpoint presentations about what I study in school. Leigh
Building Update June 2016
STAFF INTERVIEWS
Site Engineer Interview
This article is an interview of Stephen Cunningham, the Kier Construction Site Engineer for the Marr College new build. A site engineer manages the construction site and ensures that everything in organised and under control.
This was his view on the build:
Stephen said that there isn’t much distraction from the pupils due to the fences but you can still hear the pupils. Furthermore he included that safety of the pupils is essential as there are lots of hazards including machinery, different types of transport and holes in the ground. Anyone can run on the site at any time so the fences prevent it as much as possible.
Stephan says he works usually from 7:30am – 6:30pm but hours can vary on what your doing.
He said that the plot for the build was a bit challenging as it is small and there is not a lot of room to work but that they have done a lot of planning to compromise.
This was his view on the build:
Stephen said that there isn’t much distraction from the pupils due to the fences but you can still hear the pupils. Furthermore he included that safety of the pupils is essential as there are lots of hazards including machinery, different types of transport and holes in the ground. Anyone can run on the site at any time so the fences prevent it as much as possible.
Stephan says he works usually from 7:30am – 6:30pm but hours can vary on what your doing.
He said that the plot for the build was a bit challenging as it is small and there is not a lot of room to work but that they have done a lot of planning to compromise.
Labourer Interview
Team Vertigo discussing the build with builder Andrew.
We have interviewed one of the construction operatives who are on the building site that is currently happening in our school. The construction operative we interviewed is called Andrew Martin, he does many different jobs on the construction site that vary from building shelves to drilling holes Andrew enjoys using different types of machinery such as the cherry picker and the scissor lift, he looks forward to being able to use other machinery such as a dumper truck when he have got the rest of his qualifications. Andrew also said that he got into the construction business because a lot of his family were construction operatives as well however being a construction operative was not his first job choice. Andrew joined the army when he left school and he learned many skills that he can use on the building site such as discipline and teamwork sadly Andrew suffered an injury and was medically discharged. After this Andrew joined the construction industry. Andrew then joined an unemployed recruitment programme and KIER liked him so much that they offered him a job.
Design Manager
On Wednesday the 28th of April 2016, we sat down with Gordon Dalgamo, the design manager at Kier.
The design manager oversees the full project and has consultations with Mrs Anderson and Mrs McGregor –Sloman about (hence the name) the design of this building.
We had asked him a series of questions that we thought the pupils of Marr College would be interested in knowing about and this is our report on what he said.
Gordon told us that the project is running really well and there has only been one or two challenges that was easy to overcome.
He has a major in architecture and moved to being a construction design manager due to wanting an experience at a different career. Kier hires apprentices aspiring to have a job in architecture to help with their work experiences for CV’s.
Gordon’s personal opinion on our new building is that he likes it due to it being unique, as we are combining our old building with all the history of Marr with a new modern, more technical building.
He has took place in building more than 80 school projects over his full career such as colleges, universities and high schools like ours.
The project is currently two weeks ahead of schedule and Kier are hoping to finish by December 2017.
The design manager oversees the full project and has consultations with Mrs Anderson and Mrs McGregor –Sloman about (hence the name) the design of this building.
We had asked him a series of questions that we thought the pupils of Marr College would be interested in knowing about and this is our report on what he said.
Gordon told us that the project is running really well and there has only been one or two challenges that was easy to overcome.
He has a major in architecture and moved to being a construction design manager due to wanting an experience at a different career. Kier hires apprentices aspiring to have a job in architecture to help with their work experiences for CV’s.
Gordon’s personal opinion on our new building is that he likes it due to it being unique, as we are combining our old building with all the history of Marr with a new modern, more technical building.
He has took place in building more than 80 school projects over his full career such as colleges, universities and high schools like ours.
The project is currently two weeks ahead of schedule and Kier are hoping to finish by December 2017.
Quantity Surveyor
Deals with the budgets of material and the entire project, Looks to find reliable materials at a reasonable price.
Robbie Laurenson had stated that he had never felt so passionate about any other job, even though he did not know that it existed when thinking about careers at a younger age.
He told us that when getting careers advice at a young age, that it only tells us about the common jobs such as a doctor or one of the armed forces for example, and doesn’t explain that there are many different areas to be covered in the world of construction.
Quantity surveyors perform a different variety of jobs during the course of a working period.
Their responsibilities include:-
•preparing plans, contracts, budgets, bills of quantities and other documentation
•performing risk analysis evaluations
•writing reports
•arranging payments to suppliers and contractors
•providing advice and forecasts about costs
•supervising staff.
Robbie Laurenson had stated that he had never felt so passionate about any other job, even though he did not know that it existed when thinking about careers at a younger age.
He told us that when getting careers advice at a young age, that it only tells us about the common jobs such as a doctor or one of the armed forces for example, and doesn’t explain that there are many different areas to be covered in the world of construction.
Quantity surveyors perform a different variety of jobs during the course of a working period.
Their responsibilities include:-
•preparing plans, contracts, budgets, bills of quantities and other documentation
•performing risk analysis evaluations
•writing reports
•arranging payments to suppliers and contractors
•providing advice and forecasts about costs
•supervising staff.
