Top of the Class
Eton College has awarded a £700,000 contract to preserve the
heritage of its buildings for generations to come. Facilities
management specialists Ian Williams has secured the work to
maintain the appearance of a number of the Eton’s historic
buildings, including boarding houses, residential accommodation and
a number of the schools within the college.
The two-year agreement will see the Ian Williams team complete all
external and internal decorations across the college site. During
peak periods, 25 painters will work on the project at any one time
to ensure the buildings, which range from those built in 1440 to
the present day, are kept looking their best. A key aspect of the
contract will be to ensure minimum disruption to the school’s 1,300
students and staff. Specialist knowledge will be put into practice
to ensure the completed work reflects the historic environment.
Paul Broadbent, who is overseeing the work for Ian Williams, said:
“We are delighted to have secured this work and see it very much as
a reflection of our painters’ high-quality skills. We have a strong
track record of working in schools, and it is pleasing to add this
to the portfolio.
“Many of the college buildings are within the Windsor conservation
area and are listed so we will be taking measures to ensure all our
work fits within this context. We will also carefully schedule the
work to minimise disruption to the college’s activities, planning
it around term times and ensuring liaison with the college’s staff
around timetables and key events.”
Ian Williams has completed a number of painting contracts in
colleges and educational institutions across the UK, including work
with Royal Holloway, London. Other major painting projects the
company has worked on in recent years include the OXO Tower, the
Clifton Suspension Bridge, lighthouses across the UK’s shoreline
and the award-winning Malmassion Oxford - a one time prison, now
hotel.