Construction works are soon to commence on the £3.0M new build care home, following the return of tenders from the contractors tendering for the project. The new building located on the site of an existing care home is a three storey load bearing masonry structure plus the basement. Gap is responsible for the civil and structural design assisting architects Brennan Williams Lester.

GAP Ltd has been involved with Phase 3 of extensions and alterations to Poole High School. The £1.3M project included extensions to both the science and arts faculty buildings. In addition the scheme required a steel framed first floor walkway, connecting the first floor of the new science block to one of the original two storey buildings. Problems that were overcome were the high water table on the site, existing below ground services and matching the levels of the new extensions to that of the existing buildings. GAP Ltd teamed up with architects Kendall Kingscott and contractors H H Drews. The whole project is due for completion in Spring 2011.

Construction works on the new special needs unit in Park Road, Blandford Forum are near to completion. The £4.3M project offering special needs accommodation for Synergy Housing Association has been constructed by contractors Rok Construction. Gap Ltd was responsible for the structural and civil design as part of the contractors design team. The building threw up number structural challenges that needed to be overcome within the first floor structure to give the necessary sound specification and the desired open plan communal areas, on the ground floor.

Construction works are progressing on the Queen Mother Square project at Poundbury, Dorset. The development consists of three buildings, 4/5 storeys high over a single large basement car park approx., 70m x 55m in area. The building will provide shops, offices and social housing flats.

The buildings are generally steel framed with metal deck/ precast floor slabs. An insitu concrete service yard structure spans the width of the development linking the rest of the buildings provides HGV access to the shop units. GAP Ltd is responsible for the civil and structural works, working with architects Lionel Gregory and clients Woodpecker Properties. The project is due for completion in spring 2012.

The steel frame for a new meeting hall for Alderholt Chapel is well advanced. The frame has been erected and the external masonry walls are underway. The project which provides the parishioners with a meeting hall including a new baptism pool, also includes for an additional first floor within the original chapel building and a further two storey extension.

GAP Ltd was appointed to undertake the structural and drainage design, working with architects, Provision and contractors Raymond Brown.

We are please to announce that Jay Rana has become a director at GAP Limited. Jay joined the practice a year ago having gained experience working with a number of Consultant, since graduating from Bradford University. His input to the development of the practice over the past twelve months is much appreciated and the existing Directors are please to welcome Jay to the Board.

Luke who joined the company in October 2007 has just completed his second year of a part time degree course in Civil engineering at West of England University. Luke, who has three further years to complete his degrees course, hopes to progress his studies which will eventually lead to him obtaining professional qualifications with the Institution of Structural Engineers.

With our policy of encouraging and supporting further development within the company, GAP Ltd is sponsoring Dominic to continue his professional training. Dominic who graduated from Brunel University in 2002 is attending courses at Portsmouth University that will assist his passage toward his goal to become a Chartered Structural Engineer with the Institution of Structural engineers.

The opening of the Viking Longhouse took place recently. The building was built to recreate the original construction used by the Vikings. The project was developed as part of an education incentive by Dorset County Council, on a site already housing a number of building reflecting key periods in English history.

GAP was involved with the structural design of the building, working within restrictions laid down by the original construction undertaken by the Vikings all those years ago.

It is proposed that this building, unlike other existing buildings on the site, will offer accommodation for school parties and other visitors.