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The Dormitoryis a classically designed
colonnaded building with central pedimented and two long wings, Madras, South
India. It was built by the British in c1820, and now used as a girls & boys
dormitory with central master's rooms.
As the consultant architect for the Batemans charitable trust I resided and
worked at St. George’s School & Orphanage, Madras from Nov 1997 to Nov 1998.
We prepared a quinquennial survey for the prioritisation of repairs to the
main dormitory building over the next five years.
It is a classical building built circa 1820 by British engineers, which become the
childrens accommodation in 1953. Due to lack of maintenance it has fallen into
as state of disrepair with monsoon rains pooring through the building and broken
drainage runs undermining the property.
We organised and co-ordinated repairs to the badly damaged flat
'Madras Terrace Roof'(2250 sq.m.), supervising works using an Indian work force,
using traditional materials and techniques. This was done after locating
craftsmen still capable of the almost forgotten skills and teaching them how to
use the original materials and lime surki mixes.
We also repaired and converted a delapidated pavilion within the campus into
a special tuition room and boarders’ library.
We have a continuing involvement with the ongoing work at St. George’s School
Dormitory and help coordinate work with a local Madrasi conservation architect.
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