Redruth School and Cornwall Council set out a clear ambition to create a new changing facility and sports hub that could also be used by the wider community. The design of the new changing block responds to this brief by combining functional and resilient design with sustainability to provide four new changing rooms capable of accommodating up to 120 pupils. The design incorporates WCs and showers as well as a new staff office with welfare facilties and an outdoor sports store.
These new sports facilities set the benchmark for sustainable school buildings, using air source heat pumps, an MVHR-integrated hybrid ventilation system, an array of 28 photovoltaic panels and low embodied carbon construction.
Sports England were proactively consulted during the early design phases, and involved throughout the project to ensure the design met their best practice guidance and DfE standards.
The design has been informed by the modernist concrete brick buildings of the existing school, and humanised through the use of natural clay and timber. The windows and glazing has been thoughtfully designed, with good natural light provided by high level obscured glazing and a large corner window in the staff office to provide natural surveillance of the PE and amenity areas.
