Specification of Work: Dining & Teaching Canopies
Client: Kepier School
Location: Houghton-le-Spring
Kepier School approached Miko Engineering in March 2024 with a specific challenge: overcrowding during lunch and break times. The existing dining area was far too small to accommodate all the pupils in one sitting, and the school required a solution ready for the start of the September 2024 term. Due to the tight turnaround, Miko’s turnkey solution was an ideal fit. Our team managed the entire process, including building control, planning permission, civils, electrical installation, and aftercare.
Our in-house design team quickly began creating drawings and visualisations to illustrate the proposed dining canopy. After several design meetings and working closely with the school to stay within their budget, our manufacturing team began fabricating the necessary components.
The primary structure was manufactured using a range of mild steel box sections, enclosed with custom-made aluminium glazing infills. To reduce solar glare and remain within budget, the upper sections of the side and rear cladding were constructed from 2mm aluminium panels. The roof was clad with 25mm thick multiwall polycarbonate, designed to retain heat during the winter months and reflect heat during the summer.
The dining canopy also featured two stand-alone canopies to keep pupils dry while collecting lunch from the serving window and walking between the main school building and the dining area. Inside the canopy, we installed 15 LED lights on sensors, five infrared heaters for additional warmth, multiple 240V double sockets, and data points – all supported by an independent distribution board. Access to the canopy is provided via three sets of double manual doors and two large sliding doors, all lockable with a single key.
As with all Miko Engineering projects, the steelwork was galvanized to BS EN ISO 1461:2009 and powder-coated in the school’s chosen RAL colour. All steelwork was manufactured to BS EN 1090 Execution Class 2 standards, meeting legal requirements. Additionally, we provided full site-specific structural calculations for added peace of mind.
Our quotation included all groundwork, drainage, and tarmac reinstatement, ensuring there were no hidden costs.
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“As an oversubscribed school, maintaining an efficient lunchtime schedule is crucial to our curriculum and timetabling structure. We required an enclosed structure that could accommodate around 220 learners during break and lunchtime. With limited space available, we identified an area in one of our main yards for this purpose. After a thorough tendering process, we chose Miko Engineering due to their competitive pricing, commitment to supporting local industry, and the innovative structure they designed. It seamlessly blends with our current infrastructure and design, looking like a natural extension rather than an add-on, with materials ensuring year-round usage.
Miko Engineering worked extensively with our school leaders to meet our requirements in design, build, and after service. Their staff were available throughout the entire process, and despite a tight design and build timeline, the project was delivered on time and within budget. They paid close attention to our needs, incorporating feedback from our staff at every stage.
Acting as principal designer, Miko Engineering managed the liaison with the local authority’s planning team, building control, and the fire safety department. They demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness by adapting to requests from the planning team without impacting the project timeline, ensuring all additional work was completed promptly.
The finished product provides us with a fit-for-purpose, enclosed multi-use space that primarily serves as additional dining facilities but is versatile enough for other uses too. This extra space has allowed us to maintain our curriculum and timetabling structure while offering learners an additional area to socialise.
The Miko team was friendly, approachable, and conscientious, ensuring our needs were met to a high standard, including excellent aftercare service and we look forward to working with Miko on future projects.”
Mr S. Van-Lindon – Assistant Headteacher, Kepier School
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