School Kitchen Refurbishment – 1970s School Modernisation Project

Transforming a Dated Education Kitchen into a Modern, Efficient Catering Space

Project Overview: Breathing New Life Into an Outdated School Kitchen

After several site visits and detailed telephone consultations, we were appointed to completely refurbish the main kitchen of a 1970s-built school. The goal was to bring the facility up to modern standards, improving workflow, energy efficiency, hygiene, and compliance with current safety regulations—all within the tight timeframe of the school’s summer holiday period.

Challenges: Inefficient Layout & Outdated Services

The existing kitchen layout and infrastructure were no longer fit for purpose. A central island canopy and services spine took up too much floor space and restricted movement, creating a disjointed workflow and limiting the kitchen’s full potential.

Additionally, the electrical and plumbing systems were outdated and insufficient to support modern commercial kitchen equipment. These needed to be fully stripped and replaced.

Our Approach: A Complete Refurbishment from the Ground Up

1. Removal of Legacy Infrastructure

We began by removing the outdated central island canopy and service spine, opening up the room to create a much more efficient working space. All old electrics and plumbing were also stripped out to make way for new, modern installations.

2. Hygienic & Durable Finishes

We laid Altro non-slip safety flooring throughout the kitchen—designed for high-traffic, food-safe environments. For wall surfaces, we installed Bioclad uPVC hygienic cladding, chosen for its easy-clean properties and compliance with food safety regulations.

3. Ventilation, Lighting & Ceiling Installation

A new wall-mounted extraction canopy was installed to meet the ventilation demands of modern catering equipment. To improve both lighting and aesthetics, we added a suspended ceiling fitted with flat panel LED lights, delivering even, energy-efficient illumination throughout the workspace.

4. Electrical & Plumbing Overhaul

The kitchen was fully re-wired to accommodate modern equipment and improve overall safety and usability. We also renewed nearly all kitchen plumbing, including water supply and drainage, ensuring reliable service for years to come.

5. Equipment Upgrade & Reuse of Key Assets

We supplied and installed new commercial catering equipment, including:

• Blue Seal electric range ovens

• Rational combi oven

Where practical, we re-used existing equipment to help manage the school’s budget. This included a pass-through dishwasher and a servery counter, both of which were still in good working condition.

Completion & Handover

The project was completed on schedule during the school’s summer holidays, ensuring no disruption to term-time operations. All new equipment was installed and fully commissioned, and we provided on-site training for kitchen staff in the final days before reopening.

Services Delivered

✅ Full kitchen strip-out and redesign
✅ Installation of Altro non-slip flooring and Bioclad hygienic wall cladding
✅ New extraction canopy and suspended ceiling with LED lighting
✅ Complete electrical and plumbing system replacement
✅ Supply and installation of new cooking equipment
✅ Reuse and integration of existing equipment where appropriate
✅ Commissioning and staff training

This project successfully transformed a tired, inefficient school kitchen into a modern, compliant, and highly functional catering facility—ready to serve students and staff for many years to come.

👉 Scroll below to view before-and-after photos of this transformation.