From the outset, the School’s aim was to have a building that provided it with a new contemporary public frontage as well as create a dynamic teaching environment.
The new Creative and Performing Arts Centre at Sidcot School is an eye-catching and innovative addition to the School’s estate, bringing together specialist facilities for the teaching of Art, Drama and Music. The departments are interlinked over two storeys with generous circulation routes providing internal and external display and performance spaces. All areas are fully accessible.
The new facilities have been developed to encourage use by local community groups and a separate, distinct visitors’ entrance allows management of the Centre for holding public exhibitions etc. Accommodation includes separate drama and music performance spaces each designed with specific acoustic qualities for audiences of 100 using bleacher seating. Music practice rooms, 6 art studios, kiln room, classrooms, recording studio, offices and toilets are also incorporated.
A super-insulated external fabric incorporating newspaper insulation ensures energy consumption is minimised. High levels of controlled natural lighting serve key teaching spaces which, together with acoustically attenuated passive ventilation linked to CO2 sensors, provide a stimulating learning environment with excellent air quality.
The use of air source heat pumps to serve the underfloor heating system incorporated throughout the building, ensures a constant even temperature using a ‘green’ energy solution.
