New RE Hub for Sutton Valence School
Sutton Valence, one of the oldest private schools in Kent, founded in 1576, needed to replace an existing mobile building used as a temporary classroom block. The school wanted to build in its place a striking and imaginatively designed, new Religious Studies hub.
The Sutton Valence story
The school’s requirement was to create a bespoke and impressive looking new building for the school, with modern facilities and three classrooms. They had previously used another supplier for a different school building, but their design was a flat-roofed building. For this project they wanted a more aesthetically-pleasing design, that would make a great first impression of the school, and to maximise the space available.
Carlos Nasiry, Estates Bursar explained: “The previous building was an uninspiring space, it would get cold in the winter and very warm in the summer.”
Vertis offered a distinctive, attractive design which impressed the school. It was a different layout – using the same footprint as the old classrooms, but making better use of the space, bringing the building up to today’s modern building standards in the process. The school was Impressed with Vertis’ design process and the details which make the building stand out and striking to look at.
“Vertis have created so much more space. The ceiling height and the large windows, which allow lots of natural light to flood in, make it look much bigger than what we had before.”
The new Religious Studies Hub
The new hub comprises three classrooms as before, with the addition of an office storeroom and lobby, and an overall improvement of facilities which creates a better impression for pupils and their parents.
Contemporary styling has been used to great effect, with this building:
- The exterior is clad in durable vertical Western Red Cedar with dark grey commercial-grade aluminium windows and doors.
- The roof is particularly impressive - a colour-matched standing-seam pitched roof with hidden gutter detail.
- Inside, the vaulted ceiling makes the classrooms feel very spacious. There is a lobby area that runs the full length of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing lots of natural light to flood in.
It's also more energy efficient than a traditional classroom:
- Equipped with an energy-efficient Passivent mixed-mode hybrid ventilation system, discretely concealed within the ceiling void, stale air is extracted and replaced with fresh air, whilst optimising CO2 levels. This, in conjunction with the air conditioning units installed, helps pupils stay alert for longer, which makes it easier to teach a classroom of pupils.
- The building fabric exceeds thermal insulation and air-tightness requirements to afford a high-performance, sustainable and low-running-cost operation.
- LED lighting and power along with full climate control, by virtue of air-to-air heat pumps and CO2 control ventilation system.
Due to clever use of space in the design, an office has been created within the same footprint of the original building.
Carlos welcomes the building’s durability and easy ongoing maintenance capability:
“Throughout the building, the walls are painted in a strong white colour which makes it easier for our Estates team to maintain. Floor tiles instead of carpet, were a good decision as if one gets damaged it can be easily replaced. Overall, the building is much more hardwearing than what we had before.”
A transformed learning environment
“Vertis have created so much more space. The ceiling height and the large windows, which allow lots of natural light to flood in, make it look much bigger than what we had before.”
Carlos Nasiry, Estates Bursar, Sutton Valence School
Working with Vertis
Vertis’ team of highly skilled builders started in April and had completed the building in four months.
“The project was well contained on site, there was no disruption on site to the school and no issues at all. Vertis’ staff were all very hard working.”
“Craig has been great to work with – there is nothing negative I can say. As with all new buildings there are a few minor snagging issues that always need to be remedied and I can say that Craig is very responsive in dealing with these. So much so, that I am happy to recommend Vertis and use them again in the future.”
The architect who was appointed to work with Vertis on this project, MEB Design Ltd, enjoys working with Vertis too:
“Working with Craig at Vertis Buildings has been a pleasure. He imparts confidence with his knowledge and hands-on approach to construction. We’re always happy to work on school projects whenever Vertis are appointed, as we know they deliver a very good end result.” Alexander Wood, Associate Architect, MEB Design Ltd.
“The parents have commented that it’s a great addition to the school. It’s a much nicer building to look at than what we had before and it creates great first impressions of the school as it is the first building visitors see.”
Carlos Nasiry, Estates Bursar, Sutton Valence School.
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