Case Study: Full Mechanical Package for a New Build School

A new build school extension is one of the more demanding projects a mechanical contractor can take on. High occupancy, a tight programme, sustainability targets to hit, and a live school environment to work around — all wrapped into one job.

Acting as mechanical subcontractor to the main building contractor, we delivered a full mechanical services package for a new build extension at a UK school: designed, supplied, installed and commissioned. The result is a modern, energy-efficient learning environment, handed over on programme and on budget.

This post walks through the scope, the challenges, and how we delivered.

The project at a glance

Sector	Education
Role	Mechanical Subcontractor
Project type	New Build Extension
Project budget	Circa £450k
Outcome	On Programme · On Budget

A modern, energy-efficient mechanical package

The brief was clear: deliver a complete mechanical services package that would meet the demands of a high-occupancy educational setting, comply with current building regulations, and support the school’s long-term sustainability goals.

That meant specifying systems that would do more than just heat, cool and ventilate the building — they had to do it efficiently, quietly, and with minimal ongoing intervention from school staff.

What the scope covered

Our package covered the design coordination, supply, installation and commissioning of:

• Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heating and cooling across classrooms and communal areas
• Dedicated split air conditioning for the server room
• Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation (MHRV) systems for fresh air and heat reclaim
• Domestic plumbing services, incorporating an air source heat pump
• Above-ground drainage throughout the extension
• Full installation of sanitary ware
• Extract ventilation systems
• Integration of additional Building Management System (BMS) controls
• Commercial kitchen ventilation
• Full building sprinkler system installation

Ten interlocking systems, all needing to land in the same plant areas and service routes — and all needing to talk to one another through the BMS.

Working in a live school environment

Education projects come with constraints you don’t get on a standard commercial new build. Four stood out on this one:

A live school environment. The extension was being built next to an operational school. That meant noisy, dusty or disruptive work had to be timed around the school day, with deliveries, hot works and commissioning planned to avoid lessons, breaks and pickup times.

Multiple systems, one programme. Coordinating VRF, MHRV, plumbing, sprinklers and BMS doesn’t just take good design — it takes precise scheduling against the wider build, and close coordination with the electrical, structural and finishing trades.

Energy efficiency targets. The school needed systems that would keep long-term operating costs down and support its environmental goals — not just systems that met regulations on day one.

Constrained plant and service routes. Plant areas were tight. Every metre of riser, ceiling void and roof space had to be earned and planned around future maintenance access.

How we delivered

We approached it with four priorities:

• Programme-led coordination — regular site meetings with the main contractor and other subcontractors, plus live programme tracking so any slippage was visible and recoverable.
• Considered routing and access — installation planned to maximise space and to keep every system accessible for the school’s future maintenance team.
• High-efficiency VRF and MHRV — flexible heating and cooling paired with heat-recovery ventilation, so the building stays warm in winter and cool in summer without leaking energy.
• Air source heat pump and full BMS integration — sustainable hot water generation, with all mechanical systems tied into a central BMS so the school can monitor and control everything from one place.

On programme, on budget

The mechanical package was delivered on programme and within the £450k budget. The completed installation gives the school:

• A comfortable, well-ventilated learning environment for staff and pupils
• Improved energy efficiency and lower long-term running costs
• Reliable systems that are straightforward to maintain
• Full compliance with current building, safety and environmental regulations

For a new build extension, that’s the whole job: a building that does what it’s meant to do, costs less to run than the one it replaces, and doesn’t generate maintenance headaches in year two.

Frequently asked questions

What does a mechanical subcontractor do on a school project?
A mechanical subcontractor designs, supplies, installs and commissions the building’s mechanical services — heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing, drainage and (where required) sprinklers. We work to the main building contractor’s programme and coordinate with other trades.

What is VRF and why is it used in schools?
Variable Refrigerant Flow is a heating and cooling system that can heat one part of a building while cooling another, using the same outdoor unit. It’s well-suited to schools because classrooms have very different heating and cooling needs depending on occupancy, orientation and time of day.

What is MHRV?
Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation supplies fresh, filtered air into a building while extracting stale air — and reclaims heat from the outgoing air to pre-warm the incoming air. It improves indoor air quality and reduces energy loss, both of which matter in high-occupancy classrooms.

Why does BMS integration matter for a school?
A Building Management System lets non-technical staff monitor and control heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water from one interface. It also flags faults early, which keeps running costs down and prevents small issues becoming expensive failures.

Looking for a mechanical contractor for an education project?
We deliver full mechanical packages for schools, colleges and other education buildings across Staffordshire, Cheshire and the wider Midlands. From concept design through to commissioning and aftercare, we work as a single point of accountability for the mechanical scope.

Get in touch to discuss your project →

Want a copy you can share with colleagues or include in a tender pack?
Download the full PDF case study (2 pages, A4).