GRAHAM has completed a major upgrade to the synthetic sports pitch at Wellington College, Belfast.

The privately-owned facilities management contractor handed over the new sporting facility in November following an intensive nine-week programme.

Among the core elements of the project were the removal of the pre-existing synthetic pitch and shock pad, the preparation of the tarmac base, and the installation of the new synthetic carpet and shock pad.

Underlining the quality of work, the pitch has been certified to “National” level standard by the Federation of International Hockey (FIH).

A FIH “Certified Field” is independently tested to ensure that it meets the requirements of the FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Turf. Certification also includes a comprehensive series of quality control checks to detect any inaccuracies in both manufacturing and installation.

GRAHAM has been providing facilities management services at Wellington College since the new school campus was opened in 2002. It was also part of the Northwin Consortium which was responsible for the design, build, finance, and operation of the co-educational grammar school on Carolan Road in South Belfast.

Commenting on this latest life cycle works project, Brendan Dynes, GRAHAM Life Cycle Manager – Facilities Management, said:

“Wellington College has a rich sporting history and this new synthetic pitch, which has been built to the very highest standards, provides the pupils and staff with a sublime surface that features the most advanced systems on the market. It will support the school’s record for sporting excellence, now and into the future. Despite the challenges presented by Covid, in addition to operating within a live educational environment, our team worked diligently to ensure the new pitch was handed over after only nine weeks.

“We are proud to be a long-term partner of the school, with our relationship stretching right back to the development of the new campus in 2002. We continue to provide best in class services, ranging from building fabric, mechanical and electrical, planned and reactive maintenance, to grounds maintenance, and asset and lifecycle replacement.”

Education

GRAHAM delivers facilities management services to a range of schools and colleges across Northern Ireland including at St Gerard’s School and Support Services, Belfast Met, Lagan College, East Down and Lisburn Further Education Colleges, and the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education.