NG Bailey Case Study
Inspiring, educating and bringing people together in a new community college
Everest Community College
Theory
Inspiring, educating and bringing people together, a new community college is the cornerstone of a substantial regeneration plan for the Popley area of Basingstoke. For Hampshire County Council, the aim was to transform a neglected suburb by providing a hub for schooling, sport and social activities alongside key improvements to local housing and infrastructure.
The aim was to provide an exciting, stimulating and caring environment with the emphasis on raising the achievement of all 750 students. The college would offer facilities including enhanced ICT and sports halls plus community provision to include meeting rooms, a health and fitness suite and floodlit sports pitches.
Classrooms were specifically designed in three curriculum wings: science/technology, communications/ICT and maths/humanities. Flexible spaces to suit different teaching methods were essential, and there was a requirement for an assembly hall, ICT-equipped learning resource centre, a theatre, administration, conference and office space as well as dining, cafe and catering facilities.
Practice
NG Bailey was an integral part of the project delivery team, providing all the mechanical and electrical services to bring the new college to life. By working closely with the main contractor, we were able to implement a number of cost and time-saving innovations into the digital and physical infrastructure of the new buildings.
The new college is designed around sustainable objectives. We maximised low energy design features using natural ventilation with night time cooling, and a windcatcher system to provide natural fresh air. Lighting controls include presence sensors and daylight dimming.
Our building management system can close windows in unoccupied rooms automatically for security and energy saving. This has a positive impact on running costs, and also an educational benefit, via information exported from the building management system.
We have created a highly flexible learning environment. The assembly hall and drama room can be opened up into one proscenium theatre space, and all classrooms are ICT enabled for a range of classroom layouts. The college is also inclusive, safe and accessible environment, with regularly placed lifts, level thresholds, shallow ramps and well-planned fire safety system.
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Project Details
Client
Children’s Services Hampshire County Council
Main Contractor
Wates Construction
Architect
Associated Architects LLP
Consultant
Aecom
Contract Value
£4,600,000
Outcome and Added Value
This new college is designed to work hard in support of community regeneration, with flexible spaces and IT systems to suit new teaching and learning models, a sustainable building solution to cut running costs and an environment that is accessible and inclusive.