Christ College, Brecon
New Science Facilities
"Yorkon's solution best met our requirements for this project and will help us deliver some superb new facilities for the school."
The Requirement
Christ College is a co-educational independent boarding and day school, which was founded by Royal Charter in 1541 by King Henry VIII. Located in the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales, the school is one of Britain's oldest schools, with buildings dating back to the 13th Century.
Following a major bequest, the school had a requirement to expand its science facilities, bringing all its laboratories together under one roof and replacing an outdated 1950s block which is currently used for physics.
The Challenges
- To deliver a building with all the benefits of off-site construction and standardisation, whilst providing a bespoke solution and an outstanding architectural design that is in keeping with the existing school buildings and its national park location.
- To meet the requirements of the planning authorities, resulting from the historic and environmentally sensitive setting for the building
- To provide a sustainable building solution for the school.
The Solution
Yorkon was awarded the £1.3m contract to build the new science facilities, which are designed by P+HS Architects and scheduled for completion Autumn 08.
16 steel-framed modules have been manufactured off site in York, arriving at the school in the Spring, ready for completion of fitting out. The use of off-site construction is reducing disruption to teaching, is a more sustainable method of building and will guarantee completion on time and on budget.
The design of the new building responds to its sensitive location in the National Park, using local materials such as Welsh stone and timber cladding. It will provide two physics labs, two biology labs, a sixth form project room, laboratory technician's rooms, with a double height central atrium space that will function as a teaching area and exhibition space.
The scheme features a number of sustainable measures, including solar water heating to reduce energy consumption, and is designed to be flexible and adaptable to change. The modular building system will also reduce vehicle movements to site, and will reduce material waste and carbon emissions.
Comments from the Project Team
Kieran Dempsey, Bursar, Christ College:
"We chose the off-site building method for ease of construction and to reduce the uncertainty about completion on time. A sustainable design and approach was also important, particularly as the end use of the building is science.
Yorkon's solution best met our requirements for the project and will help us deliver some superb new facilities for the school."
Phil Bentley, Project Architect, P+HS Architects:
"We are delighted to secure planning permission for the new science building at Christ College. The application was particularly challenging due to the project's location in a National Park. The team worked closely to develop an off-site construction solution, and with guidance from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, we have designed a building that will provide an excellent teaching facility for the school."
