Rickmansworth School sports hall reaches latest milestone on target (From Watford Observer)
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Rickmansworth School sports hall reaches latest milestone on target
8:10am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News
By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter
Rickmansworth School has celebrated a major landmark in the building of its new sports hall with a special ceremony.
Work began on the project in July and the foundations for the new hall and multi-use pitch were finished last month.
The next step, construction of the steel frame which will form the skeleton of the hall, is under way and was marked with a special "bolt tightening ceremony" on Friday.
Stephen Burton, headteacher, said the school has waited more than a decade for the new facility.
He added: "This is a dream come true and represents years of preparation, planning and hard work by staff, governors and parents."
The honour of tightening bolts in the steel structure was given to head girl, Kirsty Burridge, and head boy, George Nanson. The structure should be completed by the end of the month.
George, a keen sportsman, said: "Everyone is excited by the opportunity to use this fantastic new facility."
The building will accommodate a four-court sports hall, and dedicated cricket lane. There will also be a fitness suite, dance studio and four new classrooms on the first floor.
Simon White, director of sport, said: "We will be able to transform the facilities available to our current and future students enhancing their sporting opportunities."
The build is using the latest, environmentally friendly gas-technology to generate power for the sports hall and any waste heat created will be used to heat the swimming pool and the hall.
Soil that was removed to create the new access road, sports hall building and pitch has been used to re-profile the sloping land at the back of the school, to create an additional playing field, saving hundreds of lorry movements.
Chris Holt, premises manager, praised the work of ASHE, the construction company, in keeping to its schedule.
He added: "We have been impressed with the quality of work completed so far and that the work is on schedule."
