News
8 June 2011
Sustainable classroom block opens at Derby College
A brand new £1million classroom block designed by Pick Everard for Derby College has opened at its Broomfield Hall campus after just 24 weeks in construction. This timber-framed, stone-fronted building has been built using the latest sustainable materials and methods by Derby-based contractor G F Tomlinson.
The two-storey Chatsworth block has eight Wifi-enabled classrooms, two laboratories and forms a key part of the development plan at the Broomfield Hall site, the county’s centre specialising in land-based education. Land-based studies there include agriculture, horticulture, equine, arboriculture, floristry, animal care and countryside management; these latest facilities will enable the college to offer a wider range of subjects.
Paul Rothera, Project Director at Pick Everard explained that the timber frame and prefabricated timber panels allowed for a very fast construction timetable, full compliance with Building Bulletin 93 acoustic requirements, and an economical build cost. He explains, “This project is a good example of the way in which schools and colleges have to look very hard at reducing expenses through energy-efficiency and environmentally friendly design and construction. By working closely with Derby College and the contractor to agree what the priorities were, the build costs per square metre have been reduced by about 30%. We’ve not compromised acoustic standards, have a naturally-ventilated building and by being very rigorous in terms of the specification, we achieved a square metre construction cost of less than £1000.”
Derby College Director of Enterprise and Innovation Louise Curd said, “In keeping with the beauty of Broomfield Hall and our desire to drive forward environmentally friendly practices in the local economy, we have worked closely with our construction partners to use sustainable materials and construction methods. This enabled the whole project to be completed in just 24 weeks and has resulted in a building that is totally in keeping with the local environment and will provide first class facilities for students for many years to come.”
The new block was officially opened by Councillor Carol Hart, local Derbyshire County Councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities. (May 11)
Following the completion of the new classroom block, Derby College has appointed Pick Everard to design its new Equine Centre. This project will be delivered in two phases with the first to include an indoor arena and second phase to include welfare facilities, classroom accommodation and spectator area, all to British Horse Society (BHS) standards.
Pick Everard is currently working on a number of major school and college projects across the UK including Northampton College, Dudley College, Stourbridge Campus and recently completed a brand new sixth form centre for Isle of Wight College. A RIBA Chartered Practice, Pick Everard has renowned expertise in educational construction and an award-winning project history in education that includes Stephenson College, Madani High School, Oakham School, Derby High School and Leicester Grammar School.
Photo caption: (Left to right). Derby College Principal David Croll; Head of Faculty Eileen Swan; Cllr Carol Hart and College Director of Enterprise and Innovation Louise Curd.
Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) provides a regulatory framework for the acoustic design of schools in support of ‘The Building Regulations Approved Document E’. Requirement E4 states that 'each room or other space in a school building shall have the acoustic conditions and the sound insulation against disturbance by noise appropriate to its normal use'. All school buildings must conform to BB93 and are subject to detailed design checks on on-site inspections.
