Students from 1st Year Construction Management & Quantity Surveying visit new courthouse in Waterford city
On a recent trip to BAM's site at Catherine Street, Waterford students from 1st Year BSc (Honours) in Construction Management & Engineering and also BSc (Honours) Quantity Surveying were given a taste of commercial construction methods. Mr. Ken Cleere, Project Manager for the works, a former graduate of SETU School of Engineering, gave the students a thorough and informative briefing on the project. Aspects of the project ranging from the construction technologies employed to the procurement arrangements were discussed.
The Waterford project (c.6,400m2) consists of the demolition of a vacant fire station and 1984 extension to the historic 1849 courthouse (designed by JB Keane) and conservation of parts of the original building (which survived the 1984 works) with the addition of a significant extension to the rear. The completed project will accommodate 6 separate court rooms and all ancillary back up spaces.
The new section of the building consists of an architectural stone clad, reinforced concrete building. The existing building will have some very detailed stone restoration works carried out in order to restore it to its former magnificence.
Students also learned first hand of many of the procedures and processes involved in this type of project and how this contrasts with the housing development sites visited previously. The site sample panels were of particular interest.
Many thanks to BAM for allowing SETU students access to such an interesting site.