Hello, and Happy New Year! Apologies for a lack of updates regarding studio construction, but hopefully we’ll have you up to speed with everything that’s been going on soon!
Volunteers from Cambridge Regional College erecting the outer walls at Cambridge105.
The premises on Gwydir Street were a little scarce back when we held our open days in October 2010. All we had to show for a studio was a chalk layout on the floor where the walls were going to be, and that was just about it. However, by the end of the first week in December, the walls of the studios were already being erected.
The studios themselves need to be built in such a way to ensure that what you hear on air isn’t a couple of presenters shouting over the hustle and bustle of the outside world. What this requires, is specially built walls that insulate against sound getting both in or out. As we’re not all master craftsmen here at Cambridge105, we were going to need help.
Peter Monaghan, NVQ Assessor in Wood Trades, Cambridge Regional College
Reaching out into the community with with the help of Peter Monaghan, one of the directors here at Cambridge105, we were able to enlist the help of Cambridge Regional College (CRC) where Peter is also an NVQ Assessor in Wood Trades. CRC provide a full range of courses across many subject areas at a level that suit the abilities and future needs of its students. The college describes itself as a centre of vocational excellence, offering courses in a range of subjects from hair and beauty to media studies. In this particular instance, we managed to get the services of joinery lecturer Gary Moore and Level 2 carpentry students Chris MacFadyen, Daniel Right and Joe Clements.
In just a day and a half, the timber frames of the studios were erected, and drywall was being attached to the frames. The drywall would hold in the first layer of insulation in the outer wall, and a further layer of insulation would be provided by an inner studio wall.
As we had a deadline of moving the studios from their temporary home to the unit of 15th December, the boys concentrated on finishing the inner walls facing into Studio 1 first which they managed plus a bit more in only 3 days. This enabled us to start the business of getting all the equipment into Studio 1, without having to worry about the construction of the outer walls in the new year interfering with broadcasting. So with windows ceiled off with plastic to keep out the dust and one door to Studio 1 on it was all left ready for the big move.
– Peter Monaghan, NVQ Assessor in Wood Trades, Cambridge Regional College.
Just some of the rockwool insulation that would be lining the studio walls.
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