Tradescant House Refurbishment in Canterbury

Project overview

The contract involved sensitive works to a Listed building of significant historical importance.

The project included re-roofing the existing structure and creating new dormitory rooms, storage areas and bathroom facilities, all without compromising the fabric of the building or its external elevations.

Phase one was to design and install a self-contained scaffold during the summer term break. This incorporated skip and loading platforms, external staircases and a goods lift, all within the boundary line.

Close liaison with local emergency services ensured clear access to the shared road, while the arrangement kept students and staff at King’s School safe by avoiding the need for internal access through the building.

Phase two required agreement with conservation and heritage officers to allow access through the roof for all site movements. The existing Kent peg roof was stripped, with tiles carefully loaded onto platforms for re-use.

New felt and battens were installed, and the roof was re-tiled using the salvaged tiles with additional locally sourced, approved reclaimed materials. At the same time, all materials for the internal refurbishment were lifted into the loft space to avoid disruption during term time.

Phase three involved installing new steelwork, following structural engineers’ calculations, to form a new floor void for the dormitory areas. The roof was then insulated and the shell reformed, with close collaboration with the designer to maximise occupancy. This phase created new dormitory rooms, shower facilities, housemaster accommodation and storage areas.

Phase four was completed during the Easter break and involved breaking through from the second floor to the level below. Two bespoke metal staircases were installed, designed to match the existing staircase. These were approved by Building Control and the Conservation Officer, prefabricated off-site and pre-checked to ensure smooth installation.

With only a three-week timescale, careful planning was essential to complete the works and make the new areas ready for students returning for the new term.

All works were delivered on schedule, with high standards of craftsmanship and close coordination with heritage requirements throughout.