Over the summer, the Chiller Box team were proud to work with the Beacon Academy on a kitchen refurbishment. This project was a little different for us though as it was to refurbish the food technology room where the children learn how to cook. Originally, we were just asked to focus on the design but they were so impressed with our work we also won the tender to supply and build.

This was a turnkey refurbishment which meant we did a full strip out, adapted services, installed a full ventilation system as well as cookers, fridges, freezers and washing facilities.

With it being a food teaching room, it had different operational needs to a restaurant or foodservice kitchen. We had to create individual workstations, look at the space each child would have to prepare food and cook, ensure they could see the teachers from all areas of the kitchen and also that they wouldn’t be easily distracted by being too close to one another.

The whole project was completed in just five weeks so when the children returned from the summer break, they had a brand new classroom. Timing was tight but we managed to turn everything around and hand the keys back on time; this included swapping the gas appliances over to electric.

We always enjoy working on school kitchen projects but this one was particularly exciting as we could have helped to inspire a future chef, as well as knowing we were assisting children in developing vital life skills.

The client was happy with the results of this project with positive feedback from the head of operations who we worked closely with on this development.