Prep School, Hertfordshire

This Preparatory School have appointed HUB to increase the purpose-built spaces and improve inadequate facilities for the existing number of pupils and staff on site. The school’s requirements include a multi-purpose hall, with an appropriate adjacent court, to enable the year round indoor teaching of sport, and for events and concerts that require more performance and audience space. A new glazed reception foyer will form the hub of the building, embracing the ethos of the school through its style of openness, airiness, warmth and welcome.

HUB’s phased scheme design offers a light and airy landmark entrance to announce 
the presence of the school and reflect its values. It offers a high
 quality, inclusive and accessible educational experience and focuses on the craft of construction to echo the character of the existing quality buildings on the site. The link buildings, with cloistered walks, will be in keeping with other areas of the school and its transparency brings the outside in. It is a sensitive response to the existing building forms acknowledging roof-lines and pitch, scale and material. The scheme maximises the available footprint by using levels that respond to the sloping site topography and uses legible construction methods that enhance the appearance and inform the building user.

We aim to design sufficient space and full accessibility to all areas, meeting BB93 for the acoustic design and provision of teaching facilities.

We recommend that a Glulam system is used for the main structural frame of the hall and reception areas. Glulam is a structural timber product comprising layers of timber bonded together with moisture-resistant structural adhesive to form high strength beams.