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Science and technology centre at Sevenoaks School
Science and technology centre at Sevenoaks School
Sevenoaks School invests in science

Gilbert Ash has built a £30m science and technology centre at Sevenoaks School, a co-educational independent school in Kent, which opened to students in November 2018.

The Science, Technology and Sixth Form centre is on a site overlooking Knole Park. The Marley Sports Hall and Aisher Hall buildings were demolished to release the site for the construction of the building.

Tim Ronalds Architects designed the new building. The architect has a long association with Sevenoaks, having been appointed to devise a Masterplan for the long term development of Sevenoaks School in the late 2000s. The first element of the plan, a new Performing Arts Centre, was completed in April 2010.

Facilities

The Sixth Form Centre provides sophisticated social, study and educational space for the school’s 400 sixth formers, linked to an extensive multi-purpose space for exams and events of all kinds.

The building is conceived as a science workshop - a place for experimentation and discovery.

The laboratories are arranged on three floors around a toplit atrium, lined with display vitrines. It included 20 multidisciplinary labs; two specialist project labs; four technology teaching spaces; a CAD-CAM room; material prep areas; ‘science lounge’ for display and research; and advanced projects workshops.

Focusing on the health and wellbeing of the students, the project also incorporates informal meetings spaces; group working spaces; study areas; and a sixth form pastoral service office, along with a careers resource centre.

The project, which accommodates over 1,200 students and staff, has been built over 8500 sqm internal floor area, and is on a part sloping site within the school grounds.

Construction

The new building has a flat slab structure for the lower levels and a steel framed structure and pre-cast concrete slab roof structure with zinc sheet roof finish and extensive roof lights.

External walls comprise facing brickwork on met sec frame and internal linings; steel windows and glazed screens.

The building is largely naturally ventilated with louvered vents beside windows. Sub-structure comprises piled foundations.

 

Technology integration

The project has the first install of a new Building Management system; integration of the mechanically operated roof light and facade ventilation system and associated controls; intelligent lighting controls; and a borewell water cooling system.

The building is designed to meet a BREEAM target of ‘Excellent’.

The success of the project and the strong relationships built with the client have led to Gilbert Ash starting another project with the client - a set of boarding accommodation on the Sevenoaks campus. 

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