Dover Grammar School’s Dramatic Transformation: Overcoming Challenges and Delivering Excellence
We are thrilled to announce that Enviromesh has been shortlisted for the prestigious Ground Engineering Magazine Award 2025.
The award recognizes exceptional ground engineering schemes in the UK with a geotechnical value of up to £500,000.
The project stood out for its remarkable credentials, demonstrating excellence in innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety, and value engineering. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to delivering outstanding results and pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence.
The ambitious project, part of the Priority Schools Building program with Keir Group, involved the demolition and rebuilding of the school, situated on a challenging, steeply sloped site bisected by a 12m high retaining wall. Early on, the project faced a significant hurdle when the groundworks subcontractor went into administration, placing immense financial pressure to its delivery.
Enviromesh, specialists in retaining wall solutions, were appointed with designing, supplying, and constructing the critical retention wall. From the outset, Enviromesh demonstrated a proactive approach, engaging in value engineering (VE) discussions with Kier Group, presenting various options and clearly outlining their respective benefits and limitations.
The project’s complexity was compounded by the school’s continued operation during ground investigations (GI), limiting access and scope. Initial designs, based on assumptions of structureless chalk, called for extensive excavation and geogrid tails to ensure stability. However, following concerns around the in-situ soils and existing school buildings’ location, Enviromesh advocated for further investigation.
Unearthing Hidden Strengths
Working closely with Kier Group and Campbell Reith, supplementary trial pitting revealed grade B3 chalk at shallow depths, significantly altering the understanding of the site’s geology. As demolition progressed, two distinct benches of structured chalk were discovered, providing a more stable foundation than initially expected.
This discovery led to a major redesign, significantly reducing the required reinforced soil mass and generating substantial cost savings for the project. Enviromesh appointed Key-Geo Solutions to accurately classify the chalk by the CIRIA grading system, enabling the establishment of precise geotechnical parameters. This approach allowed Enviromesh to proactively adapt to project and customer needs.
Safety and Sustainability Priorities
Concerns were initially raised by the Department of Education on the suitability of gabions in a school environment around the risks of pupils looking to traverse the walls. Using their expertise and past project experience, to mitigate the risk of climbing, Enviromesh further adapted the design and implemented additional safety measures, including a layer of finer mesh and helical binders on exposed corners. A completed sample panel was presented to prove effectiveness, securing approval.
Furthermore, Enviromesh championed sustainable practices. By sourcing gabion stone locally less than 50 miles from the site and revising the design to use existing materials rather than importing concrete blocks from Northern Ireland from the preliminary design. This approach which has been a key benefit when working with Enviromesh allowed the project to significantly reduce its embodied carbon footprint in both manufacture of the facing as well as material transportation.
Overcoming Construction Challenges
During construction, an issue arose with overzealous compaction causing a bulge in the E-Wall facing. Enviromesh innovative E-Wall system allowed for localised removal and replacement of gabions, quickly rectifying the problem without causing delays.
Enviromesh also developed an innovative edge protection system, eliminating the need for traditional scaffolding and providing a safer working environment. This temporary system remained in place, allowing Kier Group ample time to develop and implement permanent handrailing’s.
The E-Wall was designed to accommodate both temporary crane loads and the permanent bridge deck, with the bank seat cast directly behind the gabion facing.
Celebration of Collaboration and Innovation
The project’s success culminated in a letter of commendation from the Department of Education, expressing their delight with the results. This achievement stands as a testament to the collaborative approach, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability demonstrated by Enviromesh to every project partner.
Overall outcome of the project illustrates how the range of provision and expertise from Enviromesh delivers more to partners. Enviromesh’s team of experts and service partners can provide thorough investigation, flexible design, and proactive problem-solving overcoming challenges of complex construction projects.
Enviromesh being shortlisted for the Ground Engineering Magazine Awards 2025 is further recognition of our work and processes within the industry.
The Dover Grammar School project serves as a model for future school building initiatives and wider future developments, displaying how collaboration and innovation can deliver exceptional results.
Enviromesh being shortlisted for the Ground Engineering Magazine Awards is further recognition of the performance, delivery and expertise within the industry and how we are achieving results.
