The Grove Primary School requires reorganisation. updated ICT facilities, group learning spaces and additional classrooms to satisfy the 2FE intake. Templeman Design were appointed over 2 Phases. The first phase included internal rationalisation to form two additional classrooms within the existing building form. This involved some intuitive use of dead space to achieve two year 1 classrooms, all of which was delivered over summer period of 2015 to reduce disturbance to the occupied building and ensure works could be carried out safely. Both the external play area and reformation of dead space was complete on budget and ready for the new academic year.

The second phase included a reasonable size extension together with multiple smaller extensions to enable the entire school to become 2 form entry (FE). This was not without its challenges, access and staging the works was going to be critical together with innovate approaches to construction to ensure works were delivered on time and budget. As always, Templeman Design’s approach of taking opportunities from constraints played a key roll in this delivery, while also overcoming existing site wide problems.

Templeman Design utilised Building Information Modelling (BIM) from the initial concept proposals through to handover information, to provide a quality design package and coordinate design. Overall reduced the project risk and coordination issues.

Access for construction was a challenge but careful restructuring of play areas resulting in the required access, and the contractors compound would later become an extension to the car park elevating the schools parking issue while removing making good costs. Staging the works and construction typology also key to the projects success. A lightweight timber frame building was design for the main extension forming two additional classrooms and a bespoke ICT facility. Templeman Design also took the opportunity to provide a small mezzanine decking within each classroom to provide a raised quiet space to encourage addition reading and learning activities. Cloak ‘pods’ were constructed off site to improve the programme and reduce the impact on occupied space. External landscaping, and facade improvements to the existing school ties the various aspects of the project together, providing the school with an exciting new learning environment, which was complete on time and on budget being handing over in September 2016.