BUILDING PROGRESS
This page was originally produced to give regular updates on progress
with the new Girlguiding Guessens District Centre
in Guessens Road, Welwyn Garden City
with the new Girlguiding Guessens District Centre
in Guessens Road, Welwyn Garden City
A reminder of what we replaced. If you want to see how this building was demolished then go to "Demolition!" |
REPORTS (additional photos in Gallery):
22 April 2017:
Job done!!
To mark the completion of the District Centre an Open Day was held. See "Gallery" for pictures.
Job done!!
To mark the completion of the District Centre an Open Day was held. See "Gallery" for pictures.
20 April 2017:
Over the past few days many tasks have been finished ready for the Open Afternoon (22 April) - extra planting in the garden areas; fire extinguishers are in place; more coat hooks; new tables & chairs have arrived; more notice boards are up; a kitchen cupboard has been modified; the intruder alarm is working; and the new external signage has been put up. Just a few more "little jobs" and we will be ready for Saturday!
Over the past few days many tasks have been finished ready for the Open Afternoon (22 April) - extra planting in the garden areas; fire extinguishers are in place; more coat hooks; new tables & chairs have arrived; more notice boards are up; a kitchen cupboard has been modified; the intruder alarm is working; and the new external signage has been put up. Just a few more "little jobs" and we will be ready for Saturday!
More photos in Gallery.
6 April 2017:
The servery hatch was fitted today. There was also a teach-in on the various heating, lighting and power systems in the Centre; thankfully backed-up by a substantial manual! The building is therefore just about ready for handover from the builders. Our proper external signage is ordered - a small sign helps people find us in the meantime. Gallery now includes some more pictures of the small hall. It can be used in conjunction with the main hall, or independently. On its own it is particularly suitable for meetings or small events. |
31 March 2017:
The new Centre is more or less complete!!
The servery hatch should be fitted next week and "snagging" has still to be completed, but essentially the building work is finished. There is, of course, quite a bit still to be done to make the building ready for use. All sorts of details remain - from coat hooks to notice boards and toilet roll holders - and we have the next few weeks to deal with this before the "open afternoon" on 22 April (all welcome).
Also in the next couple of weeks all of the equipment in storage will be repatriated and, as needed, new equipment will be purchased.
Importantly, bookings for the new Centre can now be made - contact the Bookings Secretary at [email protected] .
There are quite a few pictures of the "finished product" in Gallery.
The new Centre is more or less complete!!
The servery hatch should be fitted next week and "snagging" has still to be completed, but essentially the building work is finished. There is, of course, quite a bit still to be done to make the building ready for use. All sorts of details remain - from coat hooks to notice boards and toilet roll holders - and we have the next few weeks to deal with this before the "open afternoon" on 22 April (all welcome).
Also in the next couple of weeks all of the equipment in storage will be repatriated and, as needed, new equipment will be purchased.
Importantly, bookings for the new Centre can now be made - contact the Bookings Secretary at [email protected] .
There are quite a few pictures of the "finished product" in Gallery.
21 March 2017:
The plumbing has been completed in both of the toilets and in the kitchen. Ducting for the cooker hood is also finished. The servery hatch is expected to be fitted in a couple of weeks time - it has to be fire-rated and must close automatically in an emergency. Door closers and fittings completed.
Some boxing-in of pipework has been done. Lots of small holes & blemishes are being plastered in, and then final painting needs to be done. Then there only remains a bit of DIY - noticeboards, cook hooks, etc. (More photos in Gallery.) |
15 March 2017:
Our new Centre caught basking in the sun today! Internally there's still a lot going on - preparation for the gloss painting, testing the electrical & gas systems, fitting out the toilets, ducting for the cooker hood, plumbing-in the kitchen sinks, putting shelving in the store cupboard, and countless other finishing jobs. The major outstanding item of work at the moment is the hatch for the servery and this should be sorted out soon. (No additional pictures today.) |
8 March 2017:
7 March 2017:
"Like a building site" today - men working everywhere on many different jobs.
With the kitchen, lobby and WC flooring laid the kitchen units are being fitted, and the WCs plumbed in. In the main hall the flooring is being laid. The heating units are being tested and electrical switches etc being installed. Carpenters are fixing door architraves and will soon start on the skirting boards. Controls for the electrical Velux windows are being made functional.
Outside, the paving has been finished and gates erected. The external lighting is almost completed - just the bulkhead lights in the canopy remain to be done. The canopy uprights have been clad and guttering installed. Bark chippings have been spread around the rear of the building.
Although there still remains quite a lot to be done (eg internal gloss painting) the project is now coming quickly towards its conclusion.
"Like a building site" today - men working everywhere on many different jobs.
With the kitchen, lobby and WC flooring laid the kitchen units are being fitted, and the WCs plumbed in. In the main hall the flooring is being laid. The heating units are being tested and electrical switches etc being installed. Carpenters are fixing door architraves and will soon start on the skirting boards. Controls for the electrical Velux windows are being made functional.
Outside, the paving has been finished and gates erected. The external lighting is almost completed - just the bulkhead lights in the canopy remain to be done. The canopy uprights have been clad and guttering installed. Bark chippings have been spread around the rear of the building.
Although there still remains quite a lot to be done (eg internal gloss painting) the project is now coming quickly towards its conclusion.
2 March 2017:
The canopy is up - a little more work to finish it off. The kitchen flooring is laid - just a few finishing touches needed. And the kitchen units have arrived and will be fitted soon.
Work continues on laying the flooring in the lobby and WCs. Materials are also on-site for the flooring in the halls.
The canopy is up - a little more work to finish it off. The kitchen flooring is laid - just a few finishing touches needed. And the kitchen units have arrived and will be fitted soon.
Work continues on laying the flooring in the lobby and WCs. Materials are also on-site for the flooring in the halls.
26/27 February 2017:
Work on the internal flooring has started - damp-proofing and latexing is underway in preparation for floor coverings. External work is nearing completion - side paving laid. Posts and wire installed in hedge line (by garden working party - separate item in "NEWS" about this). Canopy over front doorway will go up soon.
Work on the internal flooring has started - damp-proofing and latexing is underway in preparation for floor coverings. External work is nearing completion - side paving laid. Posts and wire installed in hedge line (by garden working party - separate item in "NEWS" about this). Canopy over front doorway will go up soon.
17 February 2017:
Top soil for the landscaping arrived today; the gas supply has been re-installed; the block paving is almost complete. Internally work progresses on the heating installation and water piping for the kitchen and toilets. Although being stored temporarily off-site, the kitchen units are ready for installation once flooring has been laid.
The following weekend (18 & 19 February) girls. parents and leaders formed a garden working party to do the soft landscaping - see "News".
Top soil for the landscaping arrived today; the gas supply has been re-installed; the block paving is almost complete. Internally work progresses on the heating installation and water piping for the kitchen and toilets. Although being stored temporarily off-site, the kitchen units are ready for installation once flooring has been laid.
The following weekend (18 & 19 February) girls. parents and leaders formed a garden working party to do the soft landscaping - see "News".
10 February 2017:
8 February 2017:
Internally, there is quite a lot of progress with heating and power points being installed, and preparation for painting. Externally, water is being connected (electricity is already on), preparation for paving continues, the fencing between the garages is receiving its finishing touches . |
3 February 2017:
External works continue with the front area now almost cleared for hard landscaping - block paving. There will also be some soft landscaping. The pathway to the side will be paved. New fencing and a high kerb are to be installed on the boundary between the garages adjacent to our site. With the front now largely cleared we now have a clear "street view" of our new District Centre. (More photos in "Gallery") |
27 January 2017:
The floor main screed is now down throughout the building and, because of the cold damp weather, some heating and dehumidifying is needed to help plaster and screed to dry (that's why the hall interior appears quite pink). Outside a trench is being prepared for the sewer connection and work has started on the side fence/kerbing between the garages. |
24 January 2017:
After a delay, caused by a freeze-up at the company supplying the floor screed, a delivery was received today and work has started to lay it in the main hall. Meanwhile the wall and ceiling plaster continues to dry-out. The electricity supply was connected today. Getting the gas reconnected is proving much more difficult. |
10 January 2017:
03 January 2017:
Despite Christmas and New Year, the builders have continued to make progress since the last visit. Work has been continuing with the plasterboarding and this is now complete (except for small areas in the hallway, and the interior of the main storage cupboards).
Plastering in the smaller hall is about to start.
Photos in Gallery.
Despite Christmas and New Year, the builders have continued to make progress since the last visit. Work has been continuing with the plasterboarding and this is now complete (except for small areas in the hallway, and the interior of the main storage cupboards).
Plastering in the smaller hall is about to start.
Photos in Gallery.
21 December 2016:
13 December 2016:
The external doors and windows were fitted today. The building is now weather-tight. Roof insulation is complete. The external alarm bell now adorns the front. The WGC Mayor Pat Mabbott and County Councillor Malcolm Cowan visited the site on 10 December. This is reported in News. (More photos in Gallery.) |
09 December 2016:
The external scaffolding has been removed and the downpipes from the gutters are fitted. External doors and windows are due to be installed next week.
The insulation in the roof is being fitted - there was an enormous stack of it still outside. Our thanks to Welwyn Garden Alarms for an intruder alarm system - they were busy installing the wiring. Internally the studwork is complete and ready for boarding and plastering. (As usual there are more photos in "Gallery".) |
28 November 2016:
23 November 2016:
After a few days of appalling weather it is good to see that excellent progress is still being made.
The roof is being made ready for the tiles - and it was nice to see the delivery of tiles arriving today. Inside, work is underway on the storage area (which will be over the kitchen and toilet areas). (more photos in Gallery) |
15 November 2016:
08 November 2016:
External walls finished apart from the eaves. Scaffolding being raised to complete the eaves and prepare for work on the roof.
See photos in Gallery.
External walls finished apart from the eaves. Scaffolding being raised to complete the eaves and prepare for work on the roof.
See photos in Gallery.
04 November 2016:
28 October 2016:
25/26 October 2016:
18 October 2016:
11 October 2016:
07 October 2016:
04 October 2016:
03 October 2016:
Exciting!
Visiting today coincided with the steelwork arriving - and the building frame starting to be erected. Within a few days we will be able to see the shape and size of the new building. Also, some new fencing has been put up to replace the worst of the old fence. Quite a few photos are in "Gallery". |
27 September 2016:
The concrete footings are complete - the steel girders (see earlier photos) are now buried in the footings where they run close to the garages and the sub-station. Installation of pipes to carry away water from the gutters and downpipes is progressing. Unfortunately much of the perimeter fencing is in a worse state than previously thought - clearing soil and growth away has revealed that the gravel-boards have rotted.
19 September 2016:
Following our previous visit to the site the builders dug out most of the remain trenches for the foundations. Then down came the rain (last Friday) and the trenches were filled with water and soil washed back into them. By the time of this visit the water had been cleared and the trenches made ready for more concrete. Also on-site are some steel beams which will form part of the foundations where they run close to the adjacent garages and electricity sub-station.
More pictures in "Gallery". |
14 September 2016:
Until now all of the work has been either demolition and clearance, or digging holes. The first element of construction has now happened - some concrete has been poured and the first building regulation inspection has taken place. Not much to see and it will, in due course, not be visible but it is still positive progress. |
12 September 2016:
02 September 2016:
Our appointed building contractors - Lioncrest Homes - should be on-site from 5th September making final preparations to start building; with actual building commencing from 12th September.
25 July 2016:
Following production of detailed architect's drawings and building specification, tenders have been obtained from a number of companies who had indicated their willingness to undertake construction of the new building. Unfortunately the tenders were all considerably in excess of the amount expected! The Hut Rebuilding Committee will shortly decide how best to proceed.
Following production of detailed architect's drawings and building specification, tenders have been obtained from a number of companies who had indicated their willingness to undertake construction of the new building. Unfortunately the tenders were all considerably in excess of the amount expected! The Hut Rebuilding Committee will shortly decide how best to proceed.