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Newstead Academy

Waterside Drive, Stoke on Trent

Sector: Education

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Background
bpArchitecture were appointed for RIBA Stage 2 to 7 on this project. Stoke on Trent City Council had agreed a concept design with the School and we were asked to take this forward. The School had been experiencing increased student numbers since 2010 and were now seriously over subscribed. The proposal was to refurbish some of the existing Classrooms and extend the School from 1FE to 2FE with two nursery classes.

Ethos
The School design was to extend and reflect the existing double aspect with clear storey accommodation and provides 420 primary places and 52 nursery places.

Design and Procurement
SOT Design Manager had produced an initial Concept Design for the School Extension to Stage 2 Feasability.

bpArchitecture were then appointed to take the Design forward liasiing with the Project Manager and QS. The initial design was drawn up and costed and was considerably over budget.

bpA met with the School Head and Assistant to discuss what facilities were needed and what could be reduced to get the project aligned with the budget. The layout was rationalised to reduce wasted space. The extension to provide 2FE was swapped to move Nursery and Infants back into the exisitng classrooms which were smaller, and to format the new classrooms for KS2 pupils.

The previous layout which was submitted for planning was withdrawn and and swapped with the new layout. Stage 4 drawings were then produced whilst the PLannign application was being determined.

To save time the Project Manafer elected to negotiate with a contractor on a Design and Build basis and novate the Architect and Structural engineer to the Contractors Team.

Construction was complex becuase of a sloping site, the school needed to be on one level to ease circuation, but extending the school by half its depth again, meant that the playgrounds were at a level lower than the playing fields. The school Farm also had to be relocated so that it was accessible to the KS2 children, whilst also being able to access the playing fields to the rear to allow animals to be turned out to pasture.

Re-design
bpArchitecture produced drawings and submitted them for Planning Application at Stage 3. The proposals were costed and over budget largely due to additional costs associated with site levels and the need to extend the School on one level. There were also issues with development into Green Belt and playing fields which needed to be justified. The proposals therefore needed to accommodate enhancement of the Sports Facilities and levels on site to justify extension into playing field space.

Facilities
The existing School Classrooms were reconfigured to accommodate Nursery, Reception and KS1 Classroom space, together with adjustments to the playgrounds associated with the Classrooms and refurbishment of toilet accommodation.

An extension was constructed to provide 8 new KS2 Classrooms and associated store and toilet accommodation. Classrooms included ceilings designed to comply with the latest BB93 acoustic requirements, which would allow pupils with learning and hearing difficulties to be taught in main stream school. Toilet accommodation provides unisex toilets in single compartments to provide more privacy for pupils and was provided as a result of requests from pupils to avoid bullying issues.

The proposals also include extension of the existing double height hall space to accommodate increased numbers of pupils for dining and assembly.

The proposals also include extension to the existing Kitchen and the complete refurbishement to convert the Kitchen from re-heat style to full service Kitchen.

New playgrounds were provided to the rear for KS2 pupils.

The proposals also include formation of an internal courtyard to provide outdoor teaching space formed by wrapping the new extension around. An arrival courtyard is also provided to provide space for KS2 parents to wait for their children and to segregate the entrance from playground space.

Sports Facilities
An existing tarmac area was improved to form a formal MUGA including sports markings. The rear playing field level was adjusted as part of a put and fill exercise to provide extended sports playing surface that are suitable for sport whereas the existing playing field sloped and was unsuitable for sport.

External Works

Minor alterations were carried out the the original playground to provide external teaching space.
A new playground was constructed to the rear to cater for KS2 pupils with canopies to each classroom to provide covered external teaching space.
The plan form wrapped around to provide a three sided external courtyard, all classrooms facing this had canopies to provide external teaching space. With excercise play equipment fitted to the middle for use by KS2 pupils.
The school farm was relocated to make way fro the extension and enlarged, the school used the Farm as a teaching resource.

Sustainability
The proposals include provision of a PV Array on the South roof to provide electric generation for the School. All Classrooms are provided with external canopies which provide solar protection to Classroom windows as well as provision of external teaching space.

The external walls are insulated to more than current Part L requirements which together with high performance windows and provision of fully insulated composite roof systems reduce the overall building energy demand.

Each classroom has clerestorey windows to the rear, with opening mechanisms to allow natural ventilation. Each new classroom is also fitted with a HL ventilation unit to provide natural ventilation in winter and colder months.

Social Value

Text

Status: Completed August 2018.
Value: £2.4m
Type: New Build / Refurb
Contract: Design and Build with Architect novated at Stage 5
Project Ref: 16-058
Client: Stoke on Trent City Council
Architect: bpArchitecture
Project Manager: RLB
CDM CoOrdinator: RLB
Quantity Surveyor: RLB
Structural Engineer: Aspin Consulting
M&E Consultant: Ramboll
Contractor: Shaylor Group