New North Community School, London
This new school was constructed on the site of the original Charles Lamb School in Islington, London. The project was procured as a turnkey public- private partnership development in a joint venture between Community Solutions for Schools and London Borough of Islington. The building was shortlisted for a British Council for School Environment (BCSE) award for inspiring design.
The building was constructed mainly in load bearing masonry, supporting precast planks. The central ‘cone’ structure was to be used as a community performance space with a dance studio at first floor level. The natural frequency and response factor for the floor needed to be checked to ensure vibrations were minimal during use.
Raking circular hollow sections were adopted to support the steel frame and form the ‘cone’ structure. A hanging walkway and a bespoke architectural steel staircase were also incorporated into the steel frame.
The building incorporated many features in order to provide a sustainable solution. These include natural ventilation shafts to all teaching areas, sun pipes to provide natural lighting and brown roofs using demolition material. The building was assessed by the Schools Environmental Assessment Method (SEAM) in accordance with DfES Building Bulletin 83. The acoustic treatment of the structure varied between teaching spaces in compliance with DfES Building Bulletin 93.
