FBM have replaced a deteriorating maths department at Carshalton Boys Sports College in South London, with a new state of the art facility. Preweathered Cor-Ten steel, a material better known for its sculptural qualities, has been used to clad the building in perforated and solid panels. Combining its intriguing visual aesthetic with sensitive design and careful detailing helped to secure buy-in from staff.
The new facility provides eight new fully accessible classbasses, staff offices and WC facilities within a 775sqm single storey building. Simple and effective off-site and modular construction techniques enabled the internal design of the classrooms to be considered in full whilst working against tight programme and funding requirements.
FBM were keen to maximise the amount of daylight inside the new building by using full-height glazed internal windows looking out onto the corridor. With this increased glazing, there was initial staff concerns for potential of student distraction between classrooms. Post completion, indications have shown this feature has already had a positive impact, improving student attentiveness and behaviour within a more mature working environment.
The generous teaching spaces make use of moveable partitions to allow for future-proof, flexible teaching environments to accommodate different functions as well as community use out of teaching hours.
FBM worked closely with the board of governors at Carshalton and the contractors on site to successfully achieve funding and meet programme, budget and sustainability requirements, whilst faced with time, health and safety and operational constraints caused by working during term-time at the college. Collaborating with a client who recognised the value of good design allowed FBM to successfully balance working within the realms of today’s funding cuts and resource famine, with high quality design and delivery to produce a working environment which has helped elevate standards at Carshalton.
