Educational Development HKR Architects in Lewisham, London, UK
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Building architect:
HKR Architects
Architecture News
19 Mar 2009
HKR Architects - the international design and architecture practice - has submitted plans for Prendergast-Vale College in the London Borough of Lewisham on behalf of Costain Construction.
To be located on the prominent site of the current Lewisham Bridge Primary School on Elmira Street, this proposed high-quality, innovative and sustainable development is part of the Government's investment programme Building Schools for the Future. This project establishes a new co-educational, comprehensive, all-age foundation school for pupils aged 3 years through to 16.
Offering 835 places - 50 part-time nursery, 210 primary and 600 secondary - it will enhance the choice of schools available to parents, and supply additional secondary places which are much needed in the locality. The site is in an area of change, opportunity and urban regeneration. It is intended to be a local school and the majority of pupils will live within a 1km radius. Additionally, the school will benefit from working alongside Prendergast-Hilly Fields College and Prendergast Ladywell Fields College to become a partner in the Leathersellers' Federation of Schools. Under the new federation, a single governing body will have responsibility for all schools in the partnership.
Based on an innovative teaching philosophy, pupils progress vertically year-by-year upwards through the school. Efficiently designed on a compact site over four storeys, its learning spaces are arranged by stage, not age, with specialist facilities available to pupils sooner. During the school day the children will move less from class to class. The main school hall and sports hall are each located on the first floor, freeing up the ground floor for valuable education functions such as external play and outdoor dining. Older pupils have a wide range of specialist teaching facilities as they progress to the quieter upper floors, with an outside learning deck for the school's planned orchid growing business. A central atrium connects the spaces together and is intended to have a calm, non-institutional character. Externally, the site arrangement connects the boundary with a new public high-quality urban park, Cornmill Gardens.
In its design report CABE has been enthusiastically supportive saying: "Overall, the scheme has the makings of an excellent place for teaching and learning."
Simon Innes, architect director and head of education design at HKR commented: "The Borough of Lewisham has very clear strategies about how to improve education through its BSF programme. The team's achievement was to contribute design thinking at appropriate times in the process, and listen to the knowledge of others when that was required."
Stewart Marlow from Costain Construction said: "The design process demonstrated close working between the local authority, the LEP, Costain and the design team. Detailed computer generated models of the buidling's environmental performance, modern methods of construction and early dialogue with framework contractors were all carried out prior to submission of planning."
If given the go-ahead the school is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and 60% renewable target that will qualify for additional P4S funding.
Prendergast-Vale College London information received 190309
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