coombes : everitt Your Sector Westbury on Severn Pre-School
Westbury on Severn Pre-school
Sector
Education – Extension to Pre-school
Client
Westbury on Severn CofE Pre-school
Location
Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire
Project Value:
£100,000
This small but critical extension project has been designed to support the longer-term viability of a village primary school located within a conservation area.
The pre-school plays a vital role in securing a full intake of primary children to the school each year. However, the current pre-school facilities are significantly limiting its capacity and the primary school is operating at below capacity as a result.
Working in collaboration with Border Consultancy Chartered Surveyors, our goal was to deliver a creative solution to increase the capacity of the pre-school that works with the constraints of the site to meet its various material, practical and aesthetic goals.
The Brief:
Westbury on Severn primary school wanted to increase the total floor space of the pre-school by fifty per cent, to 30m2 so that it could accommodate a maximum intake. They also wanted the pre-school to have its own toilet facilities, in addition to the extension.
The brief also included a new all-weather outdoor play area. Plus, we looked at ways to upgrade the existing pre-school building, as it was in a poor state, didn’t get much natural light, and needed a boost in energy efficiency.
Key Challenges:
The project faced several key challenges, including the need to sensitively develop new facilities within a conservation area and address concerns that the preferred location of the extension could reduce natural ventilation and daylight in the existing classroom. We also needed to make sure that construction works caused minimal disruption to the
school day.
Our Responsibilities:
Specialist Advice
Our Solution:
The school, in conjunction with Border Consultancy, originally approached us for pre-planning advice, given its position within a conservation area and our experience of working in projects on sensitive sites.
They had already considered a number of options, including a standalone portacabin, but had decided in favour of an extension. This would provide a large pre-school room with its own toilet facilities. Additionally, its location adjacent to the main entrance of the school facilitated convenient drop off and pick up for parents. It also allowed for partial opening of the school outside normal school hours to provide wrap around care to support the working community.
The initial concept they came to us with was a simple box extension, however its location was impacting ventilation and light of the existing classroom.
We like a challenge and suggested a design that had a more imaginative aesthetic and technical solution, as well as ensuring the existing classroom would retain its natural light and ventilation.
Our final design is a high-quality extension adjacent to the existing classroom building. In the end, we were able to increase the footprint to 35.5m2 with an additional 5.5m2 for the two toilets.
The project will improve energy efficiency by upgrading walls and installing an MVHR system, enhanced accessibility and facilities with level thresholds and a compliant WC, added storage in a link between the old and new building, and ensured zero impact on the school timetable during construction.
The design of the new building complements the existing style of the school while providing a high quality, modern, easily maintainable and sustainable solution. The result? A new extension that will create a warm and welcoming space that is an inspiring learning environment for both pupils, parents and teachers.
Render generated image of the proposed extension.
