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TWA dissolved in 2016

This website is for reference only

Prefab School Case Study

Response to Coalition Governments 2011 school spending review

In future new school and college buildings 'should be based on a clear set of standardised drawings and specifications that will incorporate the latest thinking on educational  requirements.' - Sebastion James, Group Operations Director of Dixons Retail, who led the government-commissioned review. Source/news link - http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/apr/08/school-building-spending-review

Reepham College - a  successfully trialled  prototype  

 

The recently completed, popular and multi award winning Reepham College scheme design, see photographs above and below,  is in effect a successfully trialled  prototype for the above approach

 

Awards.

 

2011 -  Reepham Society Award ( Member of the Council for the Protection of Rural England)

2010 - Concrete Society Award (Certicate of Excellence)

2009 - Norfolk Association of Architects Award for Outstanding Carftsmanship

 

Key features -

 

  • Precast concrete frame, wall panels, floors and roof - a very carefully considered and resolved modulor approach with various permutations.
  • Naturally ventilated using CO2 controlled motorized opening lights – includes ICT, LRC and media suites
  • Concrete mass used for natural cooling using night purge
  • Exceptionally robust
  • 31 day build duration for superstructure
  • Low energy 
  • The project was the first in the UK to feature the use of Tarmac Precast sandwich wall panels supplied to site with integrated insulation.     
  • High quality - see Awards
  • Affordable

 

  

ICT suite - natural cross/stack ventilation supplemented when required by Photo Voltaic powered 'windcatchers'

  

Reepham College - Learning and Resource Centre - 120 computers in naturally ventilated, naturally lit environment with automated temperature, C02 and automated Faber blind glare control
Reepham Sixth Form College - natural lighting and cross/stack ventilation to first floor corridor
Reepham Sixth Form College - Internal break out space - naturally ventillated with automated vents to achieve correct C02 and temp levels

  

Canopy controls glare with fritted glazing, and enables open view to be retained from reception/hospitality area, across playing fields to countryside beyond
View across new playing fields to New Reepham Sixth Form College
Reepham Sixth Form College - detail of fritted shading canopy

 

The way forwards for headteachers , principals and governing bodies

 

The 'prefab school template' initiative is the government’s current way forwards for any substantial school build programme but in practice to progress matters at individual schools a good knowledge of the existing estate is required, not least to ensure that any works form part of a masterplan which identifies where cost effective refurbishment and remodeling works should be considered.  This masterplan would ideally be included within a premises development plan document  which would be developed and discussed with the schools representatives and which would demonstrate that a balanced assessment of options had been considered.

 

These documents can be produced within 2 months of commissioning and are a cost effective way of  an individual school taking control of its own destiny. 

 

As can be seen from the milestones links the two directors of  Teather + Walls Architects have unusually varied experience in the education sector  over the last decade  including the following -

 

  • acting as advisors to a high achieving school for in excess of 10 years – the most recent project being the prefab school template case study illustrated above
  • providing bid management services on a number  of successful bids for PFI/BSF schools projects
  • acting as advisors on UK government schools legislation
  • visiting, assessing and reviewing the development potential of in excess of 75 primary and secondary schools on a nationwide basis
  • leading  the production of 15 premises development plans
  • acting as associate senior consultant to NPS on Schools Capital Design Team (SCDT) on framework agreement for the DfE Academies Commission Construction Programme
  • acting as associate senior consultant to NPS on framework agreement for the DCSF on Surestart Children Centres

 

We believe that as a result of this Teather + Walls Architects are in an exceptionally good position to work with schools in developing robust and cost effective premises development plans, as a basis for seeking funding for the development of the schools existing estate, whether this be for  a new prefab building, refurbishment or remodeling work, or a combination of these.

 

Extract from Principal’s introductory comments in the 2010 winter issue of the Reepham High School and College Review (School Magazine)

 

‘Every journey into the college remains a delight, something special, I can no longer imagine Reepham without its sixth form. The transition has been made and we will now go from strength Chris Hassell'   Principal - Reepham High School and College      .

 

Reepham High School and College Project Focus