Category Archives: Commercial & Public

Commercial Building Contractor Suffolk – Seamans Building provide exceptional house building, construction & commercial development services in East Anglia

School science block in Bury St Edmunds

Seamans Building completed construction of a new two-storey science block at a Bury St Edmunds school – managing the project with little disruption to the school timetable.

The standalone science block at St Benedict’s Catholic School, designed by Hoopers Architects, included a science lab on each floor with a green stained timber circulation module at the front of the building.

The circulation module was designed with ‘board on board’ vertical cladding and houses an external staircase, a lift core, a first-floor balcony and ground floor WC and lobby space.

Ben Whatling, at Seamans, said: “This was a challenging build as work on the new science block took place during term time and one of the principal objectives was to maintain the functionality of the school and allow students to continue their studies uninterrupted.

“This included making sure access was maintained through a separate students’ entrance, ensuring accommodation of the school’s fire safety plans and guaranteeing the school site was secure at all times.

“It was a very compact site too, which only added to the project’s complexity.

“However, we like a challenge at Seamans – and really enjoyed constructing this superb new building.

“We were lucky to work with an excellent team at the school, who we formed a close working relationship with during our time on site, to ensure normal school operations were maintained throughout.

“This was a very interesting project to work on and we hope the students are enjoying their new science block.”

Thanks to excellent project management and strong communication between school staff, designers and Seamans, existing bus park routines and student drop offs were maintained throughout construction.

Hoopers architects, said: “Seamans offer a quality service, particularly well suited to the education sector, and we are extremely pleased with the end result.”

Work on the project was completed in February 2021.

Photography credit: Juli Richter

Refurbishment and extension of Northside House for the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Seamans Building is delighted to have delivered the refurbishment and extension of Northside House – an NHS mental health centre in Norwich.

The project, on behalf of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), comprised of three phases of construction, completed in 2017.

Phase one of the project involved initial enabling work to one ward and the refurbishment of two further wards.

The second phase included tree clearance, construction of a retaining wall, the creation of earth mounds and the relocation of gas and water mains, in preparation for phase three.

For phase three, Seamans constructed a new eight-bedroom ward while refurbishing a further ward.

The new ward, designed by Hoopers Architects Ltd, is a part steel frame construction, with piled foundations, masonry walls and Britplas secure doors and windows.

Work on Northside House, which was previously known as The Norvic Clinic, also included the construction of a timber flat roof, with a single ply membrane, internal finishes and mechanical and electrical works.

Ben Whatling, Production Director at Seamans Building said: “This was a fascinating project to work on.

“We are proud of the work undertaken by Seamans alongside Hoopers Architects and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to deliver this hugely important project.”

Stuart Richardson, chief executive with NSFT, said post-completion: “The new-look wards at Northside House are ensuring that our service users can receive safe, high-quality care closer to home without the need to be sent out of area for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

“The extensive project has also significantly improved the facilities in which our service users receive care, which is vitally important as many may remain within the units for several years while we work intensely with them to help them recover better mental health.

“Providing care from a comfortable environment also encourages more effective relationships with staff, which can help to diffuse any potentially difficult situations which may arise without the need to increase physical or procedural security.”

You can find out more about our previous projects, benefiting a range of sectors, on our projects page.

Sophisticated and modern space for learning at Culford School

Seamans Building was commissioned to construct a new, hi-tech Learning Resource Centre at Culford School in Suffolk.

The modern building, which sits in 480 acres of parkland, offers students a perfect space for learning.

Dynamic, cost-effective and sustainable, the building was designed with students in mind, giving them the ideal area for their studies.

The building has become a focal point in the school’s grounds, perfectly complementing the school’s historic buildings.

Image of Culford School learning resource centre at dusk

Work on the centre began in September 2014 following a competition to find the most suitable design, with Seamans winning the role as contractor.

The stunning building features a Glulam Portal frame with a curved wall, supporting a mezzanine floor area, with a slate roof and cedar walls.

It features a sophisticated Electrical and Mechanical system which allows controlled fresh air into the building.

This is complimented by the building’s heat recovery unit, with warm air circulated around the building and extracted by vents.

The centre also includes high-quality insulation and controlled use of heat gain through glazed areas, assisting the building’s temperature control.

In addition, careful consideration has gone into acoustics in the building, with measures taken to prevent sound reverberation.

Seamans worked closely with the client to ensure the project reflected their values, while maintaining the essential features that make it such a complimentary feature in the school’s grounds.

Duncan Haydon, Managing Director at Seamans, said: “This has been a fantastic project to work on and we are very proud of all that has been achieved.

“The Learning Resource Centre provides a superb, modern learning space for Culford School students today and well into the future.”

Work to complete the centre finished in August 2015.

Culford School - pupils working in the upper level of the learning resource centre.

Seamans Building also constructed Culford School’s new Patterson Centre for Creative Technology and the refurbishment of the school’s art rooms.

Construction of commercial units & new offices at Elm Farm Park, Suffolk

Commercial Contractor Seamans Building commenced on site at their Head Office near Bury St Edmunds in October 2018.  The units will accommodate offices and units for commercial use for let.

Phase 1 saw concrete mixers pouring 130m3 concrete into the foundations and the beginnings of the structural steel frame taking shape.

With the steel frame complete, concrete beams are put into place ready to accommodate a pre-cast concrete floor.

Once the structure is complete the roof and cladding can be installed. Windows and doors are installed and a roadway with ample parking is being laid.