Kingsbridge Community College

New teacher and staff accommodation at Kingsbridge Community College

Facts and figures

  • Client: Devon County Council
  • Value: £7.25m
  • Phase 1: 2001-2002
  • Phase 2: 2006-2007
  • The sixth form teaching centre project was part of our framework with Devon County Council, which started in 2003
  • The college is a secondary school for pupils 11 to 16 with a sixth form for 17 to 18 year olds

Interserve designed and built a new 2/3 storey split level facility of approximately 4,100 sq m to provide teaching and staff accommodation at Kingsbridge Community College.

The Phase 1 project also involved:

  • External works comprising of drainage, car parking, playing fields, fencing and soft landscaping
  • Relocation of temporary classrooms and their removal from site at contract completion
  • Refurbishment of existing building including the changing room
  • Alterations, adaptation and refurbishment of the "ROSLA" building to provide science accommodation
  • Construction of a music building
  • Extension, refurbishment and conversion works to form student services, media studies, offices, stores and car park

Interserve, during Phase 2, provided input from design concept through to construction of the new 1,324 sq m sixth form teaching centre including; new kitchen; refectory; media studies; dark room; WC facilities; platform lift; together with associated external works; drainage; and quality internal finishes.

Achievements

  • Sustainable features: Passive stack ventilation, solar panel heating, ground source heat pumps, natural ventilation, non-concussive taps, duel flush cisterns, hydroboil cisterns, energy-saving lighting and timber procured from sustainable sources
  • Maintaining operational function during construction: The project was carried out in ‘live’ school with significant phasing and segregation requirements
  • Excellent working relationships with the Council reinforced across a number of projects, as well as regular communication with the Principal and end user groups ensuring the teaching centre provided a transition from education to industry
  • Cost effective solutions: Through use of the NEC contract, design solutions were procured and completed in a timely manner. Through a value engineering exercise, the implementation of internal decorative balustrading was an affordable solution, which became a key feature of the internal circulation and break out spaces.
  • Flexibility: Despite unforeseen ground conditions, which led to the introduction of in situ reinforced concrete retaining walls, works were carried out within the original programme

"We are absolutely delighted that the project has been completed on time and to budget and furthermore that it has so magnificently fulfilled the vision we had at the very beginning of the project” . Roger Pope, Principal, Kingsbridge Community College.