Contractor sought for €7.25m extension at big Offaly school

A CONTRACTOR is being sought for a €7.25m extension at Colaiste Choilm in Tullamore.

The three-storey addition to the all boys secondary school will see its student capacity increase from 620 to 750.

Tenders are being invited from up to eight contractors for the project which will involve the construction of a 2,050 sq m building over a 15-month period.

Applicants for the contract have been told the day to day operation of the school must be maintained at all times during the build.

The school is located on O'Moore Street and currently the only access for vehicles is off the street.

During the building, construction access to the site will be provided through a separate temporary entrance taken off Bachelor's Walk (New Road).

Along with general classrooms and specialist rooms, the extension will contain a special education needs unit. There will be 11 new classrooms in all.

A sensory garden will be developed close to the new block of classrooms.

The existing car park will be expanded to include 22 further spaces and there will be a total of 150 bicycle spaces. Seven of the car parking spaces will have electric charging points.

Though the extension will be built at the Bachelor's Walk (New Road) end of the Colaiste Choilm complex, there were concerns from residents in Glenfircal estate, which is beside the school playing pitch, about the height of a boundary wall.

The residents were concerned about light blocking and visual dominance and in response, the school proposed wire mesh fencing for the upper part of an existing block wall.

The deadline for tenders is May 19 and while tender documents say price is not the only award criterion, applicants have been told the contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender.

Planning permission was granted by Offaly County Council on September 30 last.