Pate’s Grammar School

Quattro has supported Pate’s in a variety of Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) applications ranging from window and boiler replacements to block refurbishment. More recent projects include the expansion and development of their new Sixth Form Centre and Library.

The newly completed Sixth Form Centre is a celebration of learning and cannot help but excite and invigorate pupils and staff who work within its walls.

This CIF project included remodelling the school to create 11 classrooms and constructing a new 1000/sq.m building at the front of the Academy, for an expansion of 150 students. Spatial drama throughout provides an uplifting environment for all its users. This was achieved by an extremely tight budget, funded by the ESFA under the Conditions Improvement Fund, which demonstrates the skill and experience of the design team.

Traditionally procured, the new build cost (excluding external works) was £2,185.00/m2 and the refurbishment was £130.00/m2. Quattro acted as Lead Consultant, Lead Designer, Interior Designer, Project Manager and Clerk of Works, supporting the school throughout the whole process.

Intelligent design and Quattro’s close working relationship with the school has achieved an enormous amount for relatively little; a real exemplar of what good architecture can bring to school design. The project was opened by Professor Robert Winston in 2019.

Specific features of the project are as follows:

• The project included complete Project and Contract Management of the scheme by Quattro as well as, the Interior Design and oversight of the internal fit out and bespoke features requested by the school such as, the book spine staircase
• The phases have been designed and programmed so that the school remains operational at all times and the safety of all is ensured. Adjacent facilities include key teaching spaces, namely the Sports Hall and classrooms
• The building is located in a prominent location near the main entrance to the school, making it a highly sensitive, busy and constrained site, which directly informed the design, programme and risk analysis of the project
• Together with the school, Quattro approached the feasibility scheme balancing the short to medium term requirements with the longer-term objective, by creating a multi-phased plan ensuring pupils moved as few times as possible during the works
• Critical works were carried out during the school holiday periods meaning disruption from the construction phase was minimised. Therefore, the building of the extension became a positive learning experience for the students.
• Car Parking and drop off are consistently the focus of many schemes with pupils being dropped off and collected by bus. This project is no different. A very busy existing route was safeguarded and construction traffic was managed to avoid peak times.
• The contractor won the Building Safety Group’s ‘Outstanding Health and Safety in Planning and Design’ award