Case study · Schools & education
Richmond Academy, Sheerness
Specifically, A full primary-school kitchen refurbishment on the Isle of Sheppey, stripped back and rebuilt in three weeks around an asbestos discovery and a live school term.
Client
Ingleton Wood
Location
Sheerness, Kent
Project value
£50k–£100k
Build time
3 weeks
The brief
A dated school kitchen, rebuilt around a working term
Additionally, Construction consultants Ingleton Wood appointed Kent Commercial Kitchens to fully refurbish the kitchen at Richmond Academy, a two-form entry primary school on the Isle of Sheppey. Furthermore, The existing kitchen was dated and no longer fit for daily meal service.
Moreover, The work had to be delivered with the school open and lessons running. Also, That set the constraints: a secure, sealed work zone separating the build from pupils and staff, deliveries scheduled outside morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, and noise kept down through the teaching day. In particular, The brief was a modern, compliant, easy-to-clean kitchen that could carry full daily service — built without disrupting the school.
What we did
Strip-out, asbestos, and a full in-house rebuild
Asbestos discovery and strip-out
Notably, A school kitchen refurbishment Sheerness for Sheerness.
Specifically, our first inspection found asbestos. In particular, work paused for two weeks while a licensed contractor removed it safely, then we stripped out the old kitchen. Also, serviceable appliances were salvaged for reuse and the rest recycled, keeping cost and waste down for the school.
Hygienic surfaces and ventilation
Additionally, walls were lined with Bioclad UPVC antibacterial cladding for a wipe-clean finish. In particular, floors were laid in Altro Stronghold 30 slip-resistant safety vinyl, properly coved. Also, a new extraction canopy with updated ductwork and fans brought the kitchen up to current ventilation and gas safety standards.
Services and equipment, all in-house
Furthermore, all electrical, plumbing and gas works were carried out by our own team — no subcontractors. In particular, over three days the engineers installed the major appliances: a Rational combi oven, Blue Seal cooking, Hoshizaki refrigeration, and a new servery counter with a Moffat bain marie for safe hot holding and quick service to pupils.
Therefore, CAD design, bespoke stainless steel fabrication, appliance supply and install, extraction, cladding and flooring all came from one team on one programme.
Equipment specified
Specified for daily school service
- Rational combi oven — versatile batch cooking for daily service
- Blue Seal cooking — reliable hot meal prep
- Hoshizaki refrigeration — chilled ingredient storage
- Moffat bain marie servery — safe hot holding, fast service to pupils
- Maidaid pass-through dishwasher — high-volume wash-up
- Bioclad UPVC antibacterial cladding — wipe-clean hygienic walls
- Altro Stronghold 30 — slip-resistant safety flooring
The installation
Inside the Richmond Academy refurbishment
The outcome
A compliant kitchen, handed back mid-term
Consequently, Richmond Academy got a modern, hygienic, fully compliant kitchen built to carry full daily service, delivered in three weeks of on-site work without interrupting a single school day. Indeed, Staff prepare and serve meals faster, and the kitchen is easier to clean and maintain. Importantly, The asbestos find was dealt with and signed off without derailing the programme.
- CEDA Member The Catering Equipment Distributors Association — UK's voice for foodservice equipment specialists.
- ISO 9001 · 14001 · 45001 Certified The only Kent commercial kitchen design-and-install firm certified to all three.
- F-Gas Certified Certified to handle and install refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and cooling equipment.
- Gas Safe Registered All commercial gas installations carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers.
- Part of Advantage Catering Equipment Kent's design, supply and service specialists since 2003.
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