Overview
Sixtowns Waste recently completed a commercial strip out package at a live school site in Chipping Norton for Square Circles, a fit-out company delivering refurbishment works at the school.
The package involved stripping out 4 washrooms over a phased 2 week programme, preparing each area for the next stage of fit-out works.
Because the school remained live during the project, with pupils still present on site, the planning and control of the work was just as important as the strip out itself.
Project Details
Client: Square Circles
Location: Chipping Norton
Sector: Education
Project type: Commercial washroom strip out
Programme: Phased over 2 weeks
Scope: Strip out of 4 washrooms
Site environment: Live school site
Outcome: Completed ahead of schedule
The Brief
Square Circles needed a reliable contractor to carry out the strip out of 4 washrooms as part of a wider school fit-out project.
The works were split into phases, with 2 washrooms stripped during the first phase and 2 washrooms stripped during the second phase.
Our role was to remove the agreed fixtures, fittings and associated materials from each washroom, leaving the areas ready for follow-on works.
This was a labour-only strip out package, with waste loaded into the client’s skips on site.
Working in a Live School Environment
The main challenge on this project was not the physical strip out itself, but the environment the work was being carried out in.
Because the school remained live, the works had to be carefully planned around:
• Access arrangements
• Safeguarding requirements
• Site controls
• Phasing of the wider programme
• Coordination with the fit-out contractor
• Restrictions around photography and site visibility
No photos were taken or shared due to the nature of the site and the safeguarding requirements in place.
Not every project can be shown through before and after photos. On sensitive live sites, the real value is often in how the work is planned, controlled and handed over.
The Work Carried Out
Our team completed the agreed strip out works across the 4 washrooms.
The works included the removal of:
• Cubicles, including doors, screens and framework
• IPS panels
• Washroom fixtures and fittings included within the agreed scope
• Associated materials required to prepare the areas for fit-out
The works were carried out in phases to support the wider programme and allow the fit-out contractor to progress the refurbishment works in sequence.
Site Control and Communication
On a live school site, clear communication is essential.
The team had to work in a way that respected the school environment while keeping the programme moving.
This meant:
• Following site rules and access requirements
• Keeping work areas controlled
• Maintaining clear communication with the client
• Working to the agreed phased programme
• Raising and resolving queries quickly
A minor scope query was identified during the works and resolved on site without causing disruption to the programme.
Programme and Delivery
The strip out package was completed ahead of schedule.
The project ran smoothly, with no major issues, and the washroom areas were handed over ready for the next stage of works.
For fit-out contractors, this is often what matters most at the enabling works stage.
The spaces need to be stripped safely, cleanly and in the right order so the next trade can move in without delay.
The Outcome
The 4 washrooms were stripped out and handed back to Square Circles ahead of programme.
By delivering the work in a controlled and phased way, Sixtowns Waste helped prepare the school for the next stage of refurbishment while respecting the restrictions of a live education environment.
This project is a good example of what effective enabling works should do:
• Prepare the space
• Manage the risks
• Keep communication clear
• Support the wider programme
• Hand over ready for follow-on works
Why This Project Matters
This was not a project where dramatic before and after photos could be used to tell the story.
Instead, the value was in the controlled delivery.
Live school sites require a different level of care. Safeguarding, access, sequencing and communication all need to be considered throughout the job.
For fit-out companies, contractors and education clients, having an enabling works contractor who understands those requirements can make a significant difference to how smoothly the wider project runs.
Supporting Fit-Out Contractors and Education Projects
Sixtowns Waste supports fit-out companies, contractors, schools and property professionals with practical strip out and enabling works packages.
Our services include:
• Commercial strip outs
• Washroom strip outs
• Soft strip demolition
• Site clearance
• House clearances
• Waste removal and disposal where required
If you need a strip out contractor for a live site, school project or refurbishment programme, Sixtowns Waste can help prepare the space for the next stage of works.