Project details
Employer
The Sisters of Mary and Jesus
Project
Extension and Conversion of Premises for Special Needs
Capital Value
£1.0 m (2012)
Contract
Standard JCT Intermediate Contract with Contractor’s Design
Contractor
S.E.H French
Completion
April 2014
Project Partners
Cost Consultants: Castons
Planning Supervisor/CDM: MLM
Structural Engineer: MLM Consulting Engineers
Environmental Consultants: MLM Environmental
M&E Engineer: JSH Engineers
Acoustic Consultant: Sharps Redmore
Summary
In the early 2,000’s The Sisters of Mary and Jesus recognised that fewer young women were taking the veil and as a result steps would need to be taken to accommodate an ageing sisterhood. Older nuns had traditionally been cared for by their younger sisters but the evolving demographic demanded that the more senior nuns would need to be responsible for the care of their peers.
The chapter of the Sisters of Mary and Jesus is based in Felixstowe but it also occupied a smaller building in Ipswich. Barefoot and Gilles was appointed to advise on the conversion of this property to provide for the care of very senior people by people who were themselves advanced in years.
From close consultation with the sisterhood a scheme evolved which provided 12 suites adapted to special mobility needs with provision for hoists, accessible Bathrooms and wheelchair accommodation. Many of the suites were designed to provide for the particular needs of individual people and a new Chapel allowed all the sisters to continue their devotions within the newly extended premises.
