Located in the heart of Portsmouth, Ark Ayrton Primary Academy is a primary school and nursery, owned by ARK Schools. Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to great education and real choices in life.
In 2022, Mountjoy were appointed to carry out alterations and refurbishment works to the existing library and two other school rooms to create a new Dance Studio, Practical Room, and Library.
The £260k project began in July 2022, with final handover being achieved in September 2022.
We carried out the following works as part of the project:
Dance Studio
We altered and refurbished the existing library in order to create the new Dance Studio. Original furniture and fixings were stripped, followed by the flooring, which once removed revealed the existing parquet flooring underneath. This was repaired and sanded back to a suitable finish, then lacquered to complete the process. The area also saw a new corridor partition wall built and plastered ready for decorations, a new store formed, and new doors installed to the area off the existing school. The area was then fully redecorated, and a mirrored wall was created along the length of the new corridor partition, to complete the room.
Practical Room
We enlarged the existing practical room through the demolition of a partitioning wall. The room was then redecorated, including the installation of new flooring. Fixed furniture was also installed, including kitchen counters, cooking hobs, fridges, sinks, and new benching and coat hooks by the entrance to the room.
Library
We enlarged the existing school room on the ground floor through the demolition of structural walls and new lintels. The room was fully refurbished, with the installation of new built-in bookcases and shelves which included in-built seating. A new reception desk was installed with power for computers and screens, and new data points were installed for the School’s IT. An area for laptops was created with a laptop table to enable the pupils to use IT equipment. The library bookcases were split over 2 levels with the creation of a mezzanine floor. The area also saw new windows installed and new window openings created, bringing natural light into the room.
Works on the new library ran into the new school term, with students returning from the summer holiday. This meant that safety was an integral part of the works. In order to segregate the library from pupils and staff, a solid timber hoarding was installed across the new opening, allowing for segregation from the site to the school. The site was accessed via the rear service yard, and Herras fencing was installed to create a walkway through the playground for operatives.