Avanti Meadows Primary School – Bishops Stortford

Feb 27, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jul 27

Delivering Specialist Learning Environments Within a Live Educational Setting

Harvey Electrical was appointed by Ei Projects to deliver the complete Mechanical & Electrical package for the conversion of existing teaching space into a fully equipped science laboratory and computer science suite at Avanti Meadows Primary School.

Originally constructed as a primary school, the building was not designed to accommodate specialist science teaching.

Delays to the adjacent secondary school created an immediate requirement for Year 7 facilities, leaving a limited programme to design, coordinate and deliver new learning environments ready for occupation.

This project demonstrates Harvey Electrical's ability to deliver technically coordinated M&E solutions within live educational environments, balancing programme pressures, stakeholder coordination and compliance to achieve a successful project outcome.

The Challenge

The project required the complete transformation of standard classrooms into specialist teaching spaces while the school remained operational.

Working alongside Ei Projects, the school and design team, Harvey Electrical was responsible for coordinating multiple building services to create compliant science and technology facilities within an accelerated programme.

Key challenges included:

Delivering the project within a restricted programme to accommodate incoming Year 7 pupils.
Designing specialist M&E services not included within the original building.
Coordinating electrical, mechanical, gas and ventilation installations within existing classrooms.
Integrating life safety systems with new laboratory services.
Working within a live educational environment while minimising disruption to staff and pupils.
Ensuring full compliance with current education, gas and electrical regulations.

Harvey Electrical's Solution

Rather than simply delivering the electrical installation, Harvey Electrical worked collaboratively with Ei Projects to coordinate the mechanical and electrical services required to transform the space into a fully functioning educational facility.

Design & Technical Coordination

M&E design development and technical consultation.
Coordination with the wider project team.
Design reviews and practical engineering solutions.
Compliance with education and building regulations.

Electrical Infrastructure

New electrical distribution.
Power and structured data installations.
Dedicated workstation power.
Teacher demonstration facilities.
Small power installations throughout.

Specialist Laboratory Services

New gas main installation.
Gas solenoid safety systems.
Laboratory gas outlets.
Emergency shut-off controls.
Chemical-resistant sink installations.
Dedicated hot and cold water services.

Ventilation & Life Safety

Mechanical extract ventilation.
Fire alarm modifications.
Heat detection upgrades.
Integrated gas isolation linked to fire alarm systems.

Testing & Handover

Full inspection and testing.
BS 7671 certification.
O&M documentation.
Client demonstrations.
Successful project handover.

Commercial Project Delivery in Action

Delivering specialist educational facilities requires more than installing electrical systems.

The project demanded careful coordination between multiple building services, technical disciplines and stakeholders to achieve a compliant teaching environment within an accelerated programme.

By working closely with Ei Projects throughout design, installation and commissioning, Harvey Electrical successfully delivered a coordinated M&E solution that balanced programme, compliance and operational requirements while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.

The Outcome

The completed refurbishment provides Avanti Meadows with fully operational science and computer science facilities capable of supporting Year 7 education immediately.

Despite significant programme constraints, Harvey Electrical delivered a safe, compliant and future-ready learning environment, demonstrating its ability to successfully deliver

complex M&E installations within live educational environments.