Liverpool John Moores University
Minimising Disruption in a High-Traffic Student Environment
Case Study: Aldham Robarts Library, Liverpool John Moores University
Client: Holloway Cook
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Project Overview
Aldham Robarts Library, located at Liverpool John Moores University, is a prestigious building designed by the renowned architectural firm Austin-Smith Lord. Completed in 1994, the library has won numerous architectural awards and is named after Aldham “Aldie” Robarts, the founder of the Wirral Globe newspaper. The library is a key part of the university campus, which presented several challenges for Merseyside Scaffolding Company (MSC) during their scaffolding work on this project.
Merseyside Scaffolding was selected for the job due to their expertise in working within complex environments, especially on university campuses where maintaining daily operations is critical. The project required intricate scaffolding solutions to accommodate the sensitive nature of the university setting, ensuring minimal disruption to students and staff.
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Project Requirements and Challenges
The project posed several unique challenges:
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Live Campus: The university is a bustling environment with high student footfall, which required careful planning to avoid disruptions to daily operations.
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Bespoke Design Needs: Specific design requirements for the scaffolding were necessary, including custom solutions to accommodate various architectural elements.
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Sensitive Working Areas: Areas of the library and surrounding campus required scaffolding to be installed with special care to avoid interference with students, staff, and campus life.
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Out-of-Hours Work: To minimize disruption, many elements of the project had to be completed outside of normal working hours.
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Edge Protection & Perimeter Safety: The scaffolding needed to provide adequate safety and edge protection, particularly around the high-level perimeter of the entrance canopy, which required creative solutions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Bespoke Cantilevered Truss Out Edge Protection
Solutions and Methodology
MSC’s dedicated team of experts, who specialize in working on university projects, were tasked with overcoming these challenges. All operatives were DBS checked every two years, ensuring the highest standards of safety and reliability.
One key solution was the bespoke cantilevered, truss-out box section of light-duty beam work to provide high-level perimeter edge protection around the entrance canopy without needing support from the ground. This required a carefully designed scaffolding system that could support the safety measures while keeping the area unobstructed for pedestrians.
Additionally, to mitigate the disruption of daily campus life, MSC’s teams worked out of normal working hours for certain aspects of the project. By using Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs), the team was able to perform the work efficiently and safely, without impacting the students' experience or the day-to-day activities of the university.​
Outcome and Results
Merseyside Scaffolding successfully managed to balance safety, efficiency, and minimal disruption to the university environment. The bespoke scaffolding design ensured that the campus remained accessible and safe for students and staff.
The cantilevered scaffolding solutions kept the scaffolding away from pedestrian paths, ensuring the university’s aesthetics were preserved while adhering to safety standards. By working outside of normal hours, MSC avoided interfering with the busy campus activities, completing the project in a timely and efficient manner.
This case study highlights Merseyside Scaffolding’s ability to adapt to complex challenges, providing high-quality scaffolding solutions that respect the needs of educational environments. The team’s expertise in handling logistical challenges, maintaining safety, and minimizing disruption showcases their leadership in the field of scaffolding for university projects.
Bespoke Loading Bay And Access Solutions
Outcome and Results
Merseyside Scaffolding successfully managed to balance safety, efficiency, and minimal disruption to the university environment. The bespoke scaffolding design ensured that the campus remained accessible and safe for students and staff.
The cantilevered scaffolding solutions kept the scaffolding away from pedestrian paths, ensuring the university’s aesthetics were preserved while adhering to safety standards. By working outside of normal hours, MSC avoided interfering with the busy campus activities, completing the project in a timely and efficient manner.
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This case study highlights Merseyside Scaffolding’s ability to adapt to complex challenges, providing high-quality scaffolding solutions that respect the needs of educational environments. The team’s expertise in handling logistical challenges, maintaining safety, and minimizing disruption showcases their leadership in the field of scaffolding for university projects.
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