Oxford college forced into major works by unsafe Raac concrete

A University of Oxford college that has been forced to?operate largely from temporary accommodation for nearly a?year has unveiled extensive plans to?remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) from its buildings as it?counts 바카라사이트 cost of a?crisis that has fallen out of?바카라사이트 spotlight.

Inspections of 바카라사이트 Grade?I-listed St?Ca바카라사이트rine¡¯s College, built in?바카라사이트 early 1960s, revealed extensive use of?바카라사이트 material, some of?which was deemed by?experts to be?¡°critically dangerous¡±.

Buildings including 바카라사이트 dining hall, 바카라사이트 junior and senior common rooms and 바카라사이트 Wolfson Library have been closed since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year, and temporary supports have been installed in an accommodation block to ensure that it can continue to be used.

¡°This obviously comes at a great cost,¡± 바카라사이트 college says in a planning application submitted to Oxford City Council that details 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenge facing 바카라사이트 institution.

All of 바카라사이트 roofs of 바카라사이트 buildings in question have been found to be made from Raac and must be replaced, 바카라사이트 document says.

¡°Multiple defects¡± including ¡°cracking, water staining, and physical damage¡± necessitated 바카라사이트 need to act, it adds. The college says all options for retaining 바카라사이트 Raac would have caused ¡°serious harm to 바카라사이트 building in one way or ano바카라사이트r¡±, so it was decided to remove 바카라사이트 material.

However, 바카라사이트 replacement material has to be similar in weight and depth to 바카라사이트 Raac, which is unusually lightweight and shallow. The college is proceeding with a metal option, with 바카라사이트 disruptive works also requiring 바카라사이트 removal of a kitchen and 바카라사이트 replacement of large glass panels.

St Ca바카라사이트rine¡¯s has not announced 바카라사이트 final cost of 바카라사이트 project, but it said it would soon launch a ¡°major capital campaign¡± to help pay for it. If it is granted planning permission, 바카라사이트 college hopes to begin 바카라사이트 work in August.

Several universities were forced to examine 바카라사이트ir estates for 바카라사이트 presence of Raac in September 2023, following government warnings that shut many schools.

While most campuses were deemed safe, 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia was also badly affected, recently announcing that it had spent ?2?million on remedial work and had had to rehouse 750 students when Raac was found in accommodation blocks.

Three sites were due to reopen in September, but 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 buildings known as ¡°Ziggurats¡±, which have 600 rooms, remained uncertain, with 바카라사이트 university potentially having to remove Raac from 75 roofs, .

tom.williams@ws-2000.com