Suggestions
Grounds Maintenance, Landscape Creation, Arboriculture, Sports Surfacing, Parks management, IOS Managing Safely Training, Ecology & Biodiversity, Grass cutting, Horticulture, Street Cleaning, Soft Landscaping, Hard Landscaping
Our Services
idverde provides a wide range of green services, including grounds maintenance, landscape creation, and advice services, to both private and public sectors across the UK.
Gateway Project, University of Salford
The Gateway Project aims to provide a distinctive, aesthetically pleasing entrance to Salford University’s campus from Salford Crescent railway station.
The Project
Client: BAM Construction
Architect: Stride Treglown
Value: £482,000
Awards: BALI National Award 2017 – Hard Landscaping Construction (Non-domestic) between £300k and £1.5m
The Brief
The Gateway Project aims to provide a distinctive, aesthetically pleasing entrance to Salford University’s campus from Salford Crescent railway station. Green spaces and paved areas outside the Gateway Project have been designed to create a relaxing area where staff, students and local people can sit and take time out from a busy day, and where public performances will also take place.
idverde's Role
idverde began work on this project in December 2015 as sub-contractor to main contractor, BAM Construction Ltd, with works being completed in August of the following year.
Works comprised hard and soft landscaping around Salford University’s new building extension, creating access routes and recreational areas. Extensive paved areas and a granite block amphitheatre have been created, using materials supplied by the main contractor. Other specific works included:
- Laying of Kellen concrete paving in varying colours to a specific pattern;
- Laying small Kellen paving units to designated vehicular access routes;
- Installing granite cladding and copings to three raised lawn areas;
- Installation of Kellen step units to a variety of access points around the site;
- Installing 250 granite blocks, each weighing 0.5 – 2.5 tons, to create a new amphitheatre at the heart of the development;
- Construction of a feature area to accommodate a five metre tall structure of the social philosopher Friedrich Engels commissioned by the University;
- Tree and shrub planting around the site;
- Installation of ACO drainage channels.
Challenges
As the project was situated within a live university environment, vehicular and pedestrian management was a key consideration to ensure the safety of all site users, and minimal disruption to the day-to-day workings of the University. Although there was no public access permitted to the construction site, significant numbers of people required access to the adjacent buildings. The project programme therefore took a phased approach to allow access to specific aspects and buildings as the work progressed. Significant consultation with the main contractor, BAM Construction Ltd, and other key supply chain partners was required, with detailed coordination plans agreed throughout the process.
Other challenges associated with this project included ensuring key components were received on time, in particular the stone elements, which were imported from Holland and China. The complex amphitheatre structure then had to be completed, with a crane utilised to move these heavy components into place. Careful and close cooperation was necessary between idverde and other trades to ensure that underground services and ducting for bespoke lighting and handrail arrangements were not compromised.
