University of Nottingham - Boiler and plant replacements – Jubilee Campus

The University of Nottingham is an award-winning global university, with over 45,000 students across campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia.

J Tomlinson was appointed by the university to undertake plant replacement and upgrades across three teaching buildings on its Jubilee Campus as part of the university’s capital backlog programme, which focuses on improving the efficiency and resilience of its estate. Delivered by J Tomlinson’s refurbishment and engineering division, which specialises in the provision of in-house M&E capabilities, works comprised:

- Removal and disposal of redundant plant and equipment

- Design of BMS controls and control panels

- Replacement of boilers, hot water and chilled water plant and connection to BMS

- Co-ordination and installation of associated electric services

- Associated building works

The project was delivered across a live university campus, with a large portion of works taking place during the UK’s second national government lockdown which was implemented in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Site safety – live campus

Works were undertaken concurrently across all three buildings to expedite the programme.

The campus’s plantrooms were situated on the roof of each building in a glasshouse structure. To enable safe working within these areas, J Tomlinson arranged for purpose-built scaffolding to be erected around each building, with crane lifts utilised to enable access for site staff. This was accompanied by clear signage, robust traffic management, and alternative access routes implemented to help ensure the safety of campus users.

During this 20-week project, we implemented additional safety measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, including keeping the volume of operatives on site to a minimum, wearing face coverings and other PPE, and holding weekly site and hygiene-specific toolbox talks to ensure all members of the project team were kept abreast of changing regulations.

Transparent, ‘One Team’ approach

We enjoyed a close, collaborative working relationship with the University, meeting with representatives virtually and on site (depending upon Covid-19 government restrictions at the time) to jointly review the progress of the project. Early into the scheme, J Tomlinson was asked by the client to co-ordinate the replacement and installation of each building’s water conditioners – something that was additional to the original brief.

Throughout the project, J Tomlinson co-ordinated the on-site activities of specialist subcontractors, including the university’s own BMS partner.

Energy efficient plant equipment

The new boilers and chillers installed by J Tomlinson as part of the project are more energy efficient than the pre-existing equipment, contributing positively to the University’s and sustainable development goals.

LOCAL SUPPLIERS – 95% of labour and suppliers utilised were local to the Nottingham area, helping to support local employment

CLIENT KNOWLEDGE/FAMILIARITY – Having already worked in partnership with the University of Nottingham on a wide range of building and maintenance schemes, J Tomlinson’s knowledge of the client’s working methods, goals, values and campus layouts was instrumental to the success of the project, which included works that were additional to the original brief

ENERGY EFFICIENT UPGRADES - The new boilers and chillers installed by J Tomlinson as part of the project are more energy efficient than the pre-existing equipment, contributing positively to the University’s and sustainable development goals

ADDITIONAL WORKS UNDERTAKEN – During the project, J Tomlinson co-ordinated the replacement and installation of each building’s water conditioners – an additional element to the original scope of works