Eton College was founded in the year 1440 in the County of Berkshire. It has educated no less than 19 Prime Ministers and both Princes William and Harry of the British Royal Family. The School educates 1,300 pupils on a full board basis and has nearly 1,000 staff.
Working directly with Eton to enable the upgrade of the school catering equipment of the Bekynton kitchen, an entire suite of temporary kitchens was erected to ensure there was no disturbance to the academic year.
Procured as a turnkey project, the scheme required the existing kitchen be stripped out, prior to the mechanical and electrical services upgrade and a reconfiguration of the space to make the interior a more open plan arrangement.
In continual use, the site required detailed surveying prior to any works taking place. The Bekynton kitchen, originally built on a flood plain, was found to be suspended above a 3ft undercroft, with services run beneath. Being appointed as the M&E Service provider with full design capability, meant this challenge could be met without delay.
As a full board school with all students living on the premises, a substantial catering capacity is required not just from the Bekynton kitchen but many other smaller canteens as well. The installation in the Bekynton kitchen included 4 Banquet ovens, 3 double Frima Bratt pans, walk-in Cold and Freezer Rooms. With almost 1,000 staff and students using the Bekynton facility on a daily basis, turnaround time between services is critical. A conveyor clearance system was therefore installed to ensure the Dining Hall’s readiness for each sitting.
