Client
Chesham Preparatory School
Sector
Schools + FE
Services
Architecture
Service Engineering
Structural Engineering
Cheryl Gillan,
Local MP, shown the School's future plans
When Chesham Preparatory School commissioned us to design a suite of new facilities – including a swimming pool, dining hall, performance space, and additional classrooms – we faced a major challenge in bringing the proposals off the drawing board. The site for the new development was on green belt land, meaning that we would need to take a highly sensitive approach to achieve planning. This would mean justifying the proposals with a strong case for their benefits, and mitigating any negative effects with a responsive design aesthetic and a light environmental footprint.
Sustainability was a core goal of the project, and we pulled out all the stops with an integrated approach from day one. Using a range of strategies – from low–embodied carbon materials to passive ventilation – we built up a shared BIM Level 2 model that brought structural, mechanical, electrical and architectural solutions together into a single place. This made the design process considerably smoother, avoiding wasted work and communication issues as the proposals evolved.
Many of our solutions addressed both aesthetic and sustainability challenges. For instance, we clad the swimming pool in timber—a low-carbon material that also complements the surrounding countryside. Similarly, the performance hall’s structure takes inspiration from rural barns, and incorporates louvres in the roof that keep the space cool without the need for air conditioning.
By placing an early emphasis on sustainable design, approaching issues from multiple perspectives, and engaging widely with the School and local community, we were able to achieve planning permission on a difficult site without compromising the School’s vision. Children at Chesham Preparatory School will now benefit from exceptional new facilities, in a development which preserves and respects its surrounding environment.
