Many Thanks to A Dixon, Chairman of St Ambrose Old Boys for the following information and review

The new St Ambrose...

Architecture practice Sheppard Robson is preparing to submit a planning application for the £20m St Ambrose Voluntary Aided College in Trafford for builders Balfour Beatty.

Sheppard Robson's design features a central area that includes the chapel, dining, social and assembly areas. Cantilevering platforms on the upper levels support staff areas, library and ICT areas. The central space is visible at all points within the school, and all teaching areas are accessed directly from this space, shelving the need for internal corridors.

Inside the central space

 

 

Tony O'Brien, design director at Sheppard Robson, said: "Our primary considerations when designing St Ambrose were to provide a high performance school with cutting edge teaching facilities, and to ensure that the building reflects the schools Catholic faith, expressing a strong sense of community.

"St Ambrose is comprised of four houses, with each student allocated a house for the duration of their time at the school, reinforcing this sense of community not just in the physical appearance of the school, but also in the way it operates."

St Ambrose will also boast sports facilities, with the sports hall suspended over the swimming pool.

The building is expected to be submitted for planning permission in May 2010, with completion in 2011. The project is being funded by the government's National Academies Framework Part 1.

From the air the floorplan resembles a circular cross

Sheppard Robson has designed the center space of the facility in such a way that it represents the heart of the community. It features a chapel, dining, social and assembly areas. The central space is visible at all points within the school, and all teaching areas are accessed directly from this space. This is done to eliminate the need for internal corridors.

Cantilevering platforms on the upper levels are designed to support staff areas, library and ICT areas. Tony O’Brien, design director at Sheppard Robson, stated that the firm aimed to create a high performance school with cutting edge teaching facilities, and tried to ensure that the building reflects the schools catholic faith, expressing a strong sense of community.

St. Ambrose features four houses designed to reinforce sense of community. Each student will be allocated a house for the duration of their time at the school, hence underpinning the sense of community not just in the physical appearance of the school, but also in the way it operates. The school will feature sports facilities, with the sports hall suspended over the swimming pool.

Planning application for permission will be submitted in May 2010, with a slated completion in 2011. The project is being funded by the government's National Academies Framework Part 1. Balfour Beatty Construction has landed a contract from Trafford Council to build the new St. Ambrose Voluntary Aided College.

 

SAOBA (St Ambrose Old Boys Association) examine the plans

On 19 April Mr Michael Thompson kindly gave SAOBA a detailed overview of the plans for the new school. We were impressed at the carefully thought out and integrated design, with a plan resembling a Celtic cross, and functions reflecting the family nature of the school community, organised around a large central “heart space”. The four wings will reflect the school house and departmental structure. The design features minimal use of corridors, maximum visibility and openness, with the use of natural light and transparent glass walls. It includes several multi-use areas with great future potential, and a 25m swimming pool overlooking the sports pitches through one-way glass, a sixth form area with a balcony, a sports hall, an all weather pitch and numerous other features. It is hoped that the design will help to encourage supportive links between different year groups. It is likely to transform the working methods of the school.

The heart space capacity will be 1050 (or 450 dining), lecture theatre 250. Further flexibility will be provided by folding walls, and multiple uses of rooms. Mr Thompson’s presentation was illustrated by large and detailed plans and a video. He promised to let us have the video to introduce our dinner and for the website afterwards. An interactive question and answer session followed.

Funds are apparently “guaranteed” by the present government, although the forthcoming election (May 7th) could potentially disrupt this.

The crucial planning meeting will be held in late May, and work could start in July 2010, with an 18 month build time (completion in December 2011). We are keeping our fingers crossed.

A Dixon.