Ealing Schools PFI

Slab design with sacrificial areas reduces cost without inhibiting future flexibility

These three schools in Ealing were constructed on the grounds of existing schools. A core component of the Walsh brief from Ealing Schools PFI and Costain was that careful phasing should allow construction around the old school buildings which remained open during the works.

All three schools projects were originally intended to be of steel frame, with pre-cast floors. Walsh proposed a switch to post-tensioned flat slabs on RC columns. Using post-tensioned flat slabs also helped to reduce the slab depth. This had the beneficial effect of reducing the foundation loads and offered faster construction time. As a result, the solution proposed by Walsh was found to offer significant savings which made the project viable, all without any impact upon the programme.

The client’s brief specified that future flexibility must be provided for possible changes in the servicing requirements. Therefore, the slabs were designed with sacrificial areas of slab to accommodate the possible future changes in servicing of these buildings.

By providing both reinforced concrete and post-tensioned design in-house, Walsh was able to provide the client and cost consultants clear, coherent advice that met their objectives in a more cost-effective manner.