Innovation : Beddington Infant School

HOCA Innovation in Projects

New Computer Suite

Hogan-O’Neill Chartered Architects are very pleased to have had the opportunity of designing a new Computer Suite for Beddington Infants School.

The brief was to provide a new computer suite within an existing internally located open courtyard. The building structure itself is of a prefabricated ‘Kit of Parts’ built by CLASP in the early seventies. The courtyard area was part of the overall design for the school at that time and provided natural daylight to the surrounding classroom areas.

The School Head Corrine Green, was very keen that we should minimise the impact of loss of light to the internal classroom areas.

The problem was analysed and an appropriate architectural solution evolved where full advantage was take of the circumstances that existed on the ground.

We are familiar with the nature and type of construction the CLASP buildings have to offer and as such decided to divorce the new structure from the existing save for cover flashing areas.

Given that the courtyard area provided some degree of nucleus to the school at that point we wanted to explore that aspect further by giving a new sense of focus to the school both internally and externally.

The HOCA Practice believed that to offer a new focal point externally would be advantageous given the existing flat roof had limitations in this regard.

The nature of the activity was examined and degree of heat generated by the computers and the occupants assessed.

Natural daylighting was assessed and the impact of direct sunlight of the computers examined. We also wanted to allow as much natural daylight into the space so as to reduce the impact of loss to the surrounding classroom areas.

The decision to use mechanical ventilation as opposed to natural ventilation was also examined and every endeavour was used to avoid mechanical ventilation if possible.

The Solution

A solution for the structure was needed to allow it to function independently of the existing structure. Numerous forms and heights were explored but, in the final analysis, a pyramid form was deemed to be the most appropriate.

The pyramid structure was formed with four prefabricated laminated timber portals in the each corner of the courtyard with laminated timber tie-beams connecting the timber portal at the corners. The height of the structure was designed to allow natural light to penetrate the space at high level on two sides. Existing roof obstructions prevented daylight from all four sides.

The form of the pyramid is exposed internally makes for a very dramatic space when entered from the existing resource area.

The amount of daylight from the high level windows has proved sufficient for day time use. Blinds are also installed to enhance the quality of the light in especially bright days. Given the heights of the windows no direct sunlight falls on the computer face. The computers terminals are positioned around the perimet4er of the space thus allowing lights to falls on the worktop space and not directly onto the face of the computer.

Careful consideration was given to cooling the space and every potential advantage was examined for the purposes of making the new computer space function by natural means. The opening windows were installed with control gear at low level so provide a cross draft for ventilation purposes.

This is supplemented further by four open able rooflights that also provide additional natural light at high level

The fairface finish of the existing concrete panels for the courtyard was allowed to function as the finish wall face for the new computer suite. These panels were given two coats of paint.

The natural timber of the laminated portal and beams were polished to offer the natural feel of the timber.

Conclusion

This has proved to be a very successful project for the following reasons:

The design of the computer suite provides a sense of dramatic space for the children and the teachers

The natural ventilation capacity cancelled out the need for mechanical ventilation.

The natural daylight capacity has proved very functional.

The correct environment is created for the computers by allowing all the warm air to rise into the high ceiling space.

The Practice Principals

September 2009