Bridging Heritage and Innovation to Forged the Future of Education
CLIENT: New College Swindon
ARCHITECT: Expedite
CONTRACT TYPE: JCT Design & Build
VALUE: £3.6 Million
Project Overview
The £3.6 million expansion of Swindon College was an ambitious project designed to bridge the gap between the campus’s past and its future. The brief required a seamless physical connection between the millennium-era Phoenix Building and the older Lyra Building.
Delivering a modern, high-specification facility within a busy, live campus required the hallmark Stepnell approach: complete collaboration, proactive problem-solving and a deep commitment to the local community. Through our internal specialist divisions and agile site management, we delivered a striking, inclusive educational hub while ensuring zero disruption to the college’s daily academic operations.
Technical Excellence & Infrastructure Innovation
Navigating Swindon’s Industrial Heritage
The structural build demanded a sophisticated approach, utilising a concrete and steel frame anchored by deep piled foundations. To achieve the architect’s vision for a fluid, modern aesthetic, the Stepnell team executed precision concrete pours to form curved slab edges across the ground floor, first floor, and roofline, establishing a striking silhouette for the campus.
However, the ground conditions required immediate, expert navigation. During excavation, the team unearthed unrecorded 19th-century brickwork and heavy foundations from Swindon’s historic railway works. Stepnell’s proactive civil engineering capabilities came to the fore, managing a rapid 3-metre-deep dig to clear the obstructions safely before piling could commence.
Strategic Civils and Landscaping
The external transformation required significant civil engineering to manage the site’s water levels and topography. A central feature involved constructing three Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) swales to integrate runoff into the local stormwater network.
The Stepnell Difference: To connect these swales, our team had to excavate a primary campus access road. By strategically scheduling these works during the college holidays, we avoided disruptive road closures during term time, completely safeguarding the student body and local community.
When the original design for the perimeter benches proved structurally unworkable, our groundworkers stepped in with on-site creative problem-solving. We engineered bespoke, steel-reinforced shuttering to pour the curved concrete benches on-site. Furthermore, we value-engineered the planting layout, relocating trees that would have otherwise punctured the clay liners of the drainage swales, securing the long-term integrity of the water management system.
The “Handshake” Connecting Architectural Eras
One of the most complex structural challenges was the physical integration of the new extension with two existing buildings—each with disparate floor levels and structural quirks. To bridge the level differences on the ground and first floors, we meticulously cut away sections of the Lyra Building’s original concrete frame, manually raising the levels to create a seamless transition. To ensure the finished campus was fully inclusive and compliant with modern accessibility standards, a specialist disabled platform lift and bespoke internal steps were integrated.
Protecting the Live Environment
To protect the college’s daily operations, we employed a ‘just-in-time’ integration philosophy. Rather than leaving the existing structures exposed to the elements and construction noise for months, we kept the buildings entirely separate until the final stages.
At the critical moment, we broke through the existing walls and installed a temporary, secure “box” system. This allowed our fit-out teams to complete the linking corridors in a controlled environment, preventing dust and noise from entering the main college buildings.
Proactive Safeguarding and Stakeholder Liaison
Operating safely within a live environment with thousands of students moving across campus is where Stepnell truly excels. Our site team acted as active pedestrian marshals, deploying dedicated staff and banksmen to guide students along designated walkways safely. Logistics were handled with military precision; heavy material deliveries were meticulously timed to coincide with lecture starts when students were already safely inside classrooms.
Synchronised Logistics
Maintaining a harmonious relationship with the College Estates Team was vital for operational continuity. We seamlessly synchronised our 50-week construction programme with the academic calendar:
- Noisy Works: Rigorously scheduled away from exam periods.
- Flexibility: Adjusted daily activities to accommodate open days, parents’ evenings, and Ofsted inspections.
- Curtain Wall Removal: When removing the four-storey curtain wall from the Phoenix Building, we coordinated access to adjacent classrooms well in advance, ensuring even the most intrusive structural changes had minimal impact on college life.
The Power of All-In-One Capability
The success of the Swindon College project was underpinned by the seamless integration of Stepnell’s internal specialist divisions, maximizing supply chain resilience and quality control.
Plant and Fleet Division
Our internal fleet provided a comprehensive logistical backbone. By having direct, self-delivered access to welfare cabins, fencing, heavy forklifts, and road plates, we kept the 50-week programme moving smoothly. Their agility was crucial in supplying small-scale equipment—such as access towers and pump trucks—to move materials into the first-floor loading bay efficiently.
Lawford Bespoke
Our internal joinery and fit-out partners, Lawford Bespoke, delivered the building’s premium interior finishes. They spearheaded the construction of the reception hub, including a specialist reception desk and a complex timber-slat ceiling bulkhead. When site conditions required it, they performed rapid on-site engineering adjustments to the bulkhead fixings and flawlessly executed the intricate Italian resin requirements, ensuring the architectural vision was achieved without compromising safety
Social Value: The Swindon Legacy
At Stepnell, social value is never a box-ticking exercise; it is a genuine commitment to mentorship, sustainability, and community care. Led by our dedicated project team, we turned the live site into a vibrant educational resource.
“Educate the Educator” Staff CPD
We recognised that building for an educational institution offered a unique opportunity to upskill the next generation of construction professionals. We opened our site as a learning hub for college lecturers, providing them with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions. By walking electrical and construction lecturers through a live environment, we discussed real-world applications of the latest electrical regulations, the Building Safety Act, and embodied carbon management, ensuring their classroom curriculum remains cutting-edge.
The Living Classroom
We tailored site engagement across multiple vocational departments to give students real-world context to their studies:
- Electrical & Plumbing: Examined containment systems beneath the screed and complex M&E installations for automated speed gates.
- Bricklaying & Carpentry: Observed the installation of the Steel Framing System (SFS) and high-end bespoke joinery.
- Work Experience Placements: Hosted students for intensive, week-long placements embedded within our site management and commercial teams.
- Media & Photography: Provided media students access to film a professional project documentary.
- Inclusivity (SEND Support): Collaborated with Crowdy’s Hill School to provide quiet, tailored tours for children with special educational needs, demonstrating that the construction industry is accessible to all.
