Hornchurch High School
Hornchurch High School
This school is situated on a large site with 12 school buildings and large sports grounds. We provided structural and civil engineering input to replace two buildings with a new two-storey teaching block that provides flexible teaching spaces for design and information technology, art and staff and administration facilities.
Through our research and understanding of the existing 1970s buildings that were removed, we designed an efficient substructure design, which allowed a large part of the 1970s redundant substructure to remain in place. This allowed the groundworks to proceed smoothly and quickly on site. We also agreed the SUDS strategy with the local authority and designed the below ground drainage.
For the new building, we developed a flexible and future-proof steel frame structure that incorporated photovoltaic panels on the roof.
Temporary accommodation was provided on site during the works, which involved a two storey modular building elsewhere on the school site, and we assisted in setting the strategy for this and designed the substructure in a way that allowed them to stay in place on completion in case a temporary block will be needed again on the site for another project.
Client: Hornchurch High School
Architect: NORR Architects
Photos: Courtesy of Wilmott Dixon