Queen Elizabeth Hospital School

Quattro was appointed as Architectural Consultant by Queen Elizabeth Hospital School (QEH) through limited competition to design a new build science laboratory and ceramics studio on a very prominent and challenging site in the centre of Bristol.

Our approach to Sustainable Design was to undertake the basics correctly, ensuring a thorough understanding of how the building was going to be used.

The Challenge

Quattro was appointed as Architectural Consultant by Queen Elizabeth Hospital School (QEH) through limited competition to design a new build science laboratory and ceramics studio on a very prominent and challenging site in the centre of Bristol.

The site is steeply sloping, adjacent to listed school buildings, a scheduled ancient monument with archaeological potential, and overlooks a listed Victorian terrace.

Constraints included significant planning, conservation and resident issues together with buildability, budget and access challenges as the site is land locked.

Our Solution

Specialist conservation advice and design input was provided by Quattro’s in-house conservation Architects to carefully overcome planning complexities by implementing a responsive design informing proportion and materiality. Materials were muted, simple and contemporary, being harmonious with the historic buildings and parkland setting.

Our approach to Sustainable Design was to undertake the basics correctly, ensuring a thorough understanding of how the building was going to be used. Our design incorporated high levels of insulation, natural ventilation and thermal mass whilst maximising daylight. Another benefit of our Sustainable Design was the reduction of running and maintenance costs through limited service provision and ensuring easy to use operation. Sustainable technologies were incorporated into the scheme through the use of Photo Voltaics.

We worked collaboratively with the local authority conservation and planning officers from inception to ensure successful delivery of the project in a sensitive setting whilst ensuring our client’s objectives were met. Our use of highly realistic 3D visualisation aided our design and presentation to clients, planners and the wider community to help achieve planning consent.

Quattro undertook this project using Building Information Modelling (BIM) which we have undertaken for all our projects since 2013. BIM is innovative in its approach and can offer real value to projects if implemented correctly by the right team.