Lord Grey Reception:
This project comprises extensions and alterations to an existing building at an existing secondary school in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, to form a new reception area, administration space and refurbished classrooms.
The main entrance elevation was designed to provide the maximum visual impact. This was challenging, as the brief requested only a small amount of new accommodation. This was achieved by elevating the new conference room and head teacher’s offices to the first floor level, and locating them on V shaped supporting structures.
The angles of the wall planes at first floor level unite the geometries of the new and existing buildings on site.
A two storey administration space with open plan stair and galleried first floor circulation system was located on what was originally the south side of an existing classroom block. The classrooms at first floor level continue to be lit naturally by a combination of new external windows, glazed rooflights and internal fire screens incorporating diffusing fire glass. The rooflights were selected to double up as smoke extracts, opening in the event of a fire. The project is of steel and timber framed construction. The building is fully accessible, and includes a new lift and accessible WCs.
