Last week in the quad, concrete wall construction continued with pouring of the eastern walls and another lift on the existing Kitchen and West Range walls. The final lift is being readied so that SMS can complete the membrane on Monday before pouring on Wednesday. This week should see delivery of the remaining re-bar for the basement slabs under the former chapel and extension area, and the falsework for the ground floor slab construction.

Under the former chapel, breaking out the south wall continued, together with prepping of the bearing piles in advance of the basement slab construction next week.

Oxford Archaeology have completed the excavation in the ‘extension’ area and now have no permanent presence on site. It is anticipated that they will need to return to remove the three archaeological features within the extension area. These are two wells / soakaways and some medieval walls along the piling line with All Souls College.

The ground workers have taken possession of this area and are excavating out the remaining gravels, cleaning off the pile faces and installing dowels, breaking down the bearing piles, and getting ready to lay the concrete blind on the ground.

In the West Range, additional fireproofing required for the second floor has been completed and the timber floors will be refixed shortly. The second fix joinery including skirting, door linings and ironmongery is being installed on all floors. Making good of existing walls is progressing well, and initial decorations have commenced. Existing windows are being removed, prepped, and decorated. Following the fire curtain support steelwork installation last week, sub-contractors have re-surveyed these openings and are preparing final construction drawings before going into manufacture, and likewise for the glass partitions.

Finally, a previous worker left their mark in the West Range. It reads, ‘Dado papered by W Martin 1929’.