Lees Brook Community School
- Client
- Mott MacDonald (DfE)
- Location
- Derby
- Project Leaders
- Mike Court Jim Hayles
- Value
- 12M
Challenge
The existing school was made up of a number of 1950’s and 1970’s buildings, all in a poor state of repair, apart from the sports facilities and sixth form block.
Initially, the school was going to be demolished as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme however, this was abandoned after the scheme was scrapped due to a change in government. In 2014, the school received a new lease of life after being selected by the Education School Funding Agency (ESFA) to be receive funding via phase 1 of the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). However, the budget did not allow for a complete rebuild. Instead a new main building with extended sports hall and maintaining of other existing buildings was permitted.
Quattro worked with Mott MacDonald to provide Architectural Services. The challenge was to propose a new building that met the expectations of the school whilst keeping to a tight budget. This all had to be done in a live environment. A further challenge was that a cut and fill exercise was required on the site for the new main building as the school site was made up of varying levels, in some areas a 5m difference, making accessibility difficult.
- Services
- Partners
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Mott MacDonaldBAM
Gallery
Solution
The solution was to develop an initial feasibility stage design for the school. Advice was then provided to the client group on the architectural proposals that were progressed. This involved Quattro Design Architects participating in numerous design development meetings and providing both commentary and analysis of the various alternative design solutions that were proposed.
The new contemporary school is of steel frame construction with blue engineering brick used in the cladding for aesthetic and durability purposes. It boasts a new library and modern computing features that were previously lacking. The school’s existing sports hall refurbishment was enhanced with extra dance and gym resources to create a community use area.
Successfully completed in phases to a tight programme, the initial works were carried out during the summer holidays enabling services to be connected from the existing school to the new main building site. The refurbishment of the entrance was also completed in time for pupils returning in September. This allowed the new build element to be completed by the October half term followed by demolition works to the replaced areas of the old school.
Our Education Architects detailed technical knowledge of the ESFA school design requirements coupled with our passion for great design contributed to the delivery of an outstanding new school.
This has been a great team effort across the EFA team, Motts, Advisers, Derby City Council and Lees Brook School. Well done and thank you for all your hard work/ support and we even managed to have ‘some’ fun along the way!
Priority School Building Programme Education Funding Agency