Bemrose School was identified as a priority for redevelopment by the Education & Skills Funding Agency due to a shortage of school places in the school’s locality.

 
Location:
Derby
Services:

Architecture

Landscape

Budget:
£14m
Client:
ESFA
Sector:
Education
 

The Oak Tree Building is the primary phase of a three year redevelopment programme to create a much needed additional capacity for the popular secondary school. The new building will provide valuable decant spaces to allow the original buildings to be refurbished over several phases.

Designed to be sensitive in massing, scale and character to the main 1930’s School Building, the new teaching block has maintained the views of the three copper cuploas across the city.

The position of the 3 story rectangular form building has the least impact to the rear of the Main Building but its position also introduces a sense of balance by creating a corresponding wing to the Sports Hall Block. A plaza has been created around the multi use games area (MUGA). This also ensures that the long views over the playing fields are maintained from the majority of classrooms on the south-east elevation of the Main School.

 

The project was BIM Level 2 compliant. maber applied full BIM Level 2 protocols and BIM Standards to the project. This benefitted the co-ordination process and eliminated error during the construction.

 

Materials

The New Teaching Block relates to the Neo Georgian Main Building by reciprocating the character and finish of the geometric elevations by recessed brick panel details, windows repeatedly inserted between the pilasters and a horizontal soldier course.

The entrance has a full height glazed curtain wall and a canopy guiding the visitor to the entrance doors.

The teaching provision is generally split by floor with classrooms for Humanities and ICT suites located on the Ground and First and the subject specific Science Laboratories on the Second Floor.

 

Landscape

The landscaping provides a safe, welcoming entrance to the teaching block whose location within the school grounds minimises impact on the existing locally listed school building and avoids impacting on external sports provision.

 

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Steve Basran, Director at maber commented;

We are delighted to have received this award which is testament to the close working relationship established with the Planning and Conservation departments at Derby City Council. Extensive liaison was carried out to sensitively plan the building with facade treatment deliberately designed to respect the rhythm of the original school building.