Future-proofing their facilities, Hirwaun Primary School included space flexibility as a key feature of a new £10.5m building, that opened in Autumn 2020. Allowing teachers to quickly adapt one of the main classrooms.
Style worked with contractor Morgan Sindall and the architects Boyesrees to install a Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall system. With an impressive 55dB Rw acoustic rating, once the wall is in place, separate classes can run undisturbed on either side, making this an ideal solution for isolating pupil bubbles, as well as being intensely practical in accommodating a wide variety of ongoing daily activities. The Hirwaun development is the latest education project in Rhondda Cynon Taf to benefit from targeted funding under the Welsh Government’s 21st century schools and colleges programme. To date, the school’s aging buildings have been replaced with a modern and exciting learning environment with further work going ahead in 2021, including the creation of two multi-use games areas, a staff car park, an ecological habitat area, grass sports pitches and external learning spaces.
Style’s operable wall was selected by Morgan Sindall following their tender process – the final solution giving teaching staff the freedom to separate the room into two with ease or open it up into one large teaching space. “This manually operated wall is ideal for a primary school setting as it can be moved in and out of position effortlessly,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director. “Also, if any of the panels become scuffed or damaged, they can be easily changed without having to replace the entire wall.” The wall’s pearl grey melamine finish perfectly complements the classroom décor and, with social distancing measures being a priority for all educational establishments, it gives Hirwaun Primary the ability to sub-divide space to rapidly reduce class sizes.
