The project comprised a phased development for a new Junior School, forming part of a masterplan for the development of the existing facilities at St Swithun’s.
The new buildings are located at the western end of the existing site. New classrooms, library and administrative accommodation formed the first phase of work, to allow the existing school to be decanted into the new space and the old buildings demolished.
The second phase added a multi-purpose school hall and a gymnasium. Works included remodelling of the existing site contours to provide a landscaped setting for the buildings that integrate with existing pathways and other access routes. As part of the works a new MUGA, a courtyard play area and a new access road were provided.
The new construction was designed to provide flexible spaces which could be constructed quickly and economically. Materials were specified to limit embodied energy and to be easy to maintain. Structural steelwork was used generally, and designed to act compositely with the concrete slabs enabling the overall construction depth to be shallow. Floor slabs are designed as thin precast concrete planks with cast in situ concrete toppings. This form of construction enables the structure to erected quickly and the shell made weather tight early. The lightweight planks have a good finish quality and their soffites are left unfinished. This aids the passive ventilation strategy as the thermal capacity to of the slabs is used to moderate fluctuations in energy demand.
A steel frame is also used for the school hall. The large column-free space is covered by a steel grillage arranged on a diagonal grid. This arrangement enables an efficient and shallow structure to be adopted. Weathering layers are supported by tongued and grooved structural timber decking that spans between the supporting steelwork grillage. Timber planks are self-finished and provide a visual warmth and softness to the space.
Swipe for more
