Greenvale SEND School Development & Expansion

PROJECT: SEND SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
CLIENT: OSBORNE CONSTRUCTION
ARCHITECT: AVANTI ARCHITECTS
LOCATION: LEWISHAM
STAGE: DESIGN

Osborne Construction, commissioned CDC to provide Fire Engineering, Acoustic Design and Air Quality services to their unique SEND School development throughout RIBA Stages 2 – 5. The development and expansion of new special educational needs school for the London Borough of Lewisham is part of an ongoing programme to expand SEN school provision in the borough.

The school aims to accommodate 93 secondary school pupils, creating a flexible, efficient space and an outstanding indoor and outdoor learning environment for pupils with severe learning disabilities. It will incorporate a number of teaching and learning spaces for pupils with special needs. This includes high-needs classrooms, group rooms, community/multi-purpose rooms, a two-floor multi-purpose/ dining hall, an art/drama/music room. Additionally, there is a food tech room, a library, in addition to other administration and ancillary areas.

Therefore, we had to ensure the development complied with the functional requirements of building regulations and other guidelines.

For Fire Engineering this included:

• Wheelchair access requirements for evacuation
• Internal layout of rooms
• Fire alarm systems
• Building separation
• Fire services access
• Stair numbers and locations
• Occupant numbers
• Code compliant dimensions and sizes
• Building fire rating
• Minimum protection requirements

For Acoustic Design this included:

• A series of noise surveys and environmental noise surveys around the proposed façade of the development
• Noise Assessment Reporting for Planning, to provide outline recommendations for the façade sound insulation
• Ventilation strategy and noise emissions from building services to nearby noise sensitive premises

We were recently required to provide Air Quality Support to the project as well.

The SEND School development aims to achieve BREAM Excellence standards.