St Andrews - the hard-working school

Posted on November 21, 2011

The works at St Andrews School in Congresbury, North Somerset are in progress. They include a new building that will create a link between the two existing school buildings providing three additional classrooms, the enclosure of an existing open courtyard to create a teaching support space, and new toilet and kitchen facilities in an existing hall that will enable the school to offer the hall space for use by the local community.

A prefabricated timber frame for the new building was specified in response to the rapid programme; there was a requirement for the timber in the building shell to be carefully detailed to comply with the Environment Agency's 'Flood Resilient Construction' as the school sits in a flood plain only 6m above sea level.

The limited budget encouraged us to consider how each part of the school can work hard to add as much value as possible. For example, the corridor linking the three classrooms has been designed with full height windows and low level window seats so that pupils and teachers can sit there. Outside there is a plaza with views to trees beyond; the space will be more than a corridor as it can be used to support classroom and plaza-based activities.

This project is a prime example of White Design's reHAB schools approach.  reHAB schools was established in response to the government's schools spending review, and focussed on how we can provide innovative, inspiring and cost effective learning environments, re-using the existing fabric of our school buildings and school estates whilst engaging all those who learn and teach within them.

Completion is due in early 2012, with the contractor Willmott Dixon.