September 2017 | E&M Services

Summer holidays are always busy for E&M Services and 2017 has been no different. As specialist flooring and interior contractors, we do a lot of works for schools and colleges when the schools finish for the summer holidays. One project we worked on this summer was the reception at Hollyfast Primary School in Coventry. We were invited to the school to help them to redesign their existing reception and main office. Having carried out a number of office fitouts and furniture works for the school in the past they knew that E&M Services could be relied on to do a good job for them. Last year we installed a number of computer benches to the school which helped to improve their environment and previously we have provided bespoke storage and office furniture solutions for Hollyfast Primary. The school invited us to come over as they were not at all happy with the existing layout of the busy, main school office. A number of staff are based in the area but due to the curved exterior walls the furniture just didn’t work, making it a cluttered and awkward office. The workstations were difficult to access; there was a lot of freestanding furniture, such as book cases and filing cabinets, and there just wasn’t enough space. The staff in the office have duties to go about but they also need to manage both the visitor and student reception counters. On top of this, the school stationary store was located in the area also. The existing layout also meant that the heat in the area wasn’t sufficient. Some staff were hot and some were cold. Existing radiators were blocked by furniture and their locations weren’t ideal. Mrs. Hayes-Jones, the Head Teacher, wanted the problems solved and we were happy to oblige. Firstly, we held a number of consultancy meetings with senior school management and the people who work in the reception office. It was important to find out what the issues were and then to come about building a solution to these issues. Once we had identified the problems (storage, lack of usable work space, clutter, poor storage etc.) we designed a series of potential office solutions. Due to the shape of the room it needed a bespoke furniture solution. After further consultation and the production of 3D CAD images the client was happy with our proposed solution. The office was to be stripped out, stud walls were to be removed, the floors were to be changed and the walls were to be prepared and decorated. We were then to supply and install a beautiful beech office interior providing large spacious desks, plenty of electrical sockets, a glazed wall with integrated window blinds and a large storage wall to house all the students files in large purpose made lockable filing drawers. We created large cupboards for storing stationary and also built large shelving units to house further files. In so doing this, the office would become spacious, organised and a pleasant, professional work space. DESIGN DRAWINGS: The works were scheduled to be carried out during the summer shutdown. As the school staff left for their annual leave, E&M Services arrived. The area was stripped out by our electrician and builders and cleared for action! As always, the job started with a health and safety briefing to ensure that everyone was aware of the risks and the safe working practices for the site. The client had already been issued with the relevant health and safety documents, DBS details and our insurances. The dust walls, flooring protection and dust hoarding were installed to ensure that the reception works caused as little disturbance as possible to the surrounding areas. Then the suspended ceiling was altered, stud walls were removed and the old fixtures and fittings were removed. Additional radiators were fitted and the electrical alterations were carried out. After a week the reception was unrecognisable! Whilst the site work was going on the furniture was all being constructed in the workshop, made by experienced joiners who take real pride in their work. After the area was decorated, and the ceiling was reinstated, the environment was ready for the fitout. All the items were carefully brought to site and installed and it looks great. We are pleased to say that the project was completed on time and to budget. We always clean site and leave it ready for our clients use. The last thing you want is a dusty new office. We gave the area a thorough clean and made sure any areas we had disturbed were immaculate. Have a look at our video to see how the project progressed. If you have any interior projects ranging from reception refurbishments to computer benches please get in touch.

Reception Refurbishment at Hollyfast Primary School in Coventry