Wildern Basic Needs Secondary School, Southampton
About the Project
- Principal designer: Hampshire County Council
- Client: Hampshire County Council
- Principal contractor: HBG Construction
- Principal engineer: HBG Design
- Contract value: £2,998, 188
This scheme consisted of fully fitted out science laboratories, classrooms and information technology for 440 pupils within a two-storey building on the site of an existing comprehensive school.
The site was wooded and had no road access. The new building was linked to the old, while enabling works necessary for the scheme included an 800m temporary access road running through the school's operational sports field.
A system of fences with 'level crossing' gates separated the pupils and the construction traffic. But the sports field was reinstated upon completion of the building works.
Innovation in the construction included novel methods of constructing pile caps, while building economies were achieved by reducing things like the plant room areas.
It was also built within a tight programme and contractor HBG introduced a prototype three dimensional design software package on Wildern School 's detailed design drawings that it now uses on all construction drawings for schools.
The Judges said:
"High standards of school design are what we've come to expect from Hampshire County Council and this building was no exception - well conceived and well delivered."