Wycombe Abbey School Dormitories

Project Overview

This project provided boarding accommodation for 108 girls and eight members of staff across two houses, Rubens House to the North and Pitt House to the South.

£13,600,000

Project Value

BREEAM ‘Very Good’

Sustainability Features

Provides Accommodation for 108 Pupils

Key Features

Horizontal Dorms

Unique Features

High Wycombe

Location

March 2017

Completion Date

The two interconnected houses contain distinctly different, but complementary, characteristics.

Nearest to the core of the campus is Rubens House which connects to Pitt House. Together they create an ‘L’ shape with communal recreation space for the girls, private gardens for the house mistresses, and shared gardens for the more junior staff.

The houses were built to encourage collaboration.

The houses, which are arranged over four-storeys, also contain a drawing room, MONS room, rumpus room and kitchen for each house along with study spaces for every girl including day boarding girls and shared music practice rooms.

Core Team

Gary Wykes

Project Director

Gary started his construction career at 16 as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor, combining hands-on experience with studies at Kettering and Northampton Colleges, where he earned ONC and HNC qualifications. He later obtained a part-time degree from Nottingham Trent University, completing it in five years thanks to his prior qualifications.

In the mid-1980s, Gary worked with a second company, managing projects in Hatfield and Aylesbury, before seeking a role closer to home. Joining SDC in the late 1980s, he progressed from Quantity Surveyor to Senior Quantity Surveyor and then Manager of the Special Projects Division. During the early 1990s recession, Gary played a key role in restructuring the division, which focused on smaller-scale projects. This effort helped position SDC for long-term success in a challenging economic climate.

Appointed to SDC’s Board of Directors in 2003, Gary oversees the Special Projects Division, manages key projects, and contributes to strategic and financial planning. Between 2004 and 2007, he played a role in transitioning SDC to an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT), ensuring stability and employee-centred governance. His leadership alongside the other Board Directors has been pivotal in navigating challenges and ensuring stability.

Gary has fostered enduring relationships with major clients like Jaguar Land Rover and the University of Cambridge, emphasising quality and client satisfaction. Over decades, he has supported SDC’s evolution from a more informal operation to a professional, structured organisation. As the company continues to grow and adapt, he remains committed to supporting its ongoing success and ensuring it is well-positioned to meet future challenges.

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Luke Norris

Project Manager

Luke became a part of the team in 2007 and has advanced through the company, progressing from his initial role as a Quantity Surveyor to Project Manager, and now serving as Project Director. Over the years, he has accumulated a wealth of experience across every stage of the project lifecycle. This broad expertise enables him to ensure that projects are delivered to the highest quality, on time, while maintaining strong financial oversight throughout. Luke is known for his collaborative approach, working closely with team members and stakeholders to address challenges. His problem-solving abilities and keen attention to detail have established him as a driving force in ensuring the successful delivery of complex projects.

Whittle Lab Unit 1-21 Unit 22-25 Sidgwick Lecture Block Wycombe Abbey School Dormitories