Cross School - Deeping St James

 

Jonathan Hendry Architects has refurbished Cross School, as part of a multi-phase redevelopment and restoration of a former victorian school and community centre for a local charity.

Creating a new entrance and studio spaces for the local and wider community to occupy as part of phase one.

The Project

The proposed development is for the redevelopment of the site, to facilitate the improvement of the existing community Hub.

The proposed works include the redevelopment of existing outbuildings to provide 4 new studio spaces with an entrance lobby, amenities and kitchenette. The creation of a community garden/outdoor play area and redevelopment of the Community Hub (former) school building including removal and addition of two extensions and rearrangement of internal spaces.

The scale and form of the replacement outbuilding sits in the same location as the existing building, against the boundary wall. The roof is covered in a standing seam zinc reflecting the church roof. The roof overhangs on the front elevation to provide a semi-covered external space, a loggia. The front elevation is clad in vertical oak pickets usually used for garden fencing, doors and windows are made from Oak and finished to match the timber cladding.

An existing single storey extension to the hall, facing onto the car park has been removed to create a fire escape and replaced with a soft planted garden and entrance pathway. The existing lean-to entrance extension has also be removed and replaced with a pitched roofed entrance. The form of the new entrance reflects the gable of the existing hall, the existing windows and gable are exposed inside the new entrance. A large gable window provides views onto the new communal garden. The new entrance provides a much needed arrival space that is generous, light and disability compliant. It also provides access to all parts of the building without the need for interconnecting rooms, making the building more user friendly and efficient. The entrance facade of the extension is set back and finished in the same timber as the studio building, with a single column acting as a bookend at the front of the entrance building.

 

Photographers: Jonathan Hendry Architects

 

Sustainability

The overall design aims to reduce carbon emissions by consideration of:

  • minimising energy demand through efficient energy infrastructure

  • maximising thermal efficiency through air tightness, thermal mass, insulation and passive cooling measures

  • minimising the demand for water heating, space heating and cooling, lighting and power through efficient equipment enable occupants to understand and monitor consumption through smart metering
    improve the overall acoustic quality

  • The environmental design strategy makes use of the energy embodied in the existing historic buildings and provides new extensions with a building fabric designed to exceed the requirements of the current Building Regulations.

Specifying natural materials has been a priority throughout all elements of the new buildings. The new buildings have an inner timber frame constructed using JJI-joists.
These are a cost-effective solution to achieve long spans and deep wall and roof voids. The walls and roofs have been filled with Thermafleece, sheep’s wool insulation. The roof is metal and the external walls are clay brick with lime mortar or oak pickets fixed back to the timber frame. Internally, timber stud walls have also been filled with sheep’s wool for acoustic reasons and walls have been lined with plywood. All studio spaces have an opening stable door and a roof light or window for natural cross ventilation. Floors are clay quarry tile and the district heating system is an air source heat pump.

The overall project is to embody sustainable materials and construction methodologies to create a development that has a minimal environmental impact on its immediate and wider context. Through a sensitive programme of restoration and conversion this project will secure the life of the buildings for years to come. The Studio Buildings have achieved and EPC rating A.

 

Photographers: Jonathan Hendry Architects

 

Client statement

Deeping St James United Charities owned the Cross School Site and wished to develop this as a Community Hub. Phase one of this development was to demolish and rebuild the outbuildings on the site. These were dilapidated old agricultural buildings with an earthen floors and corrugated iron roofs. Our aim was to replace these buildings with modern offices for renting out to local organisations or charities.
The site was in a conservation area, so the development had to be sympathetic to the local surroundings. This involved us in protracted discussions the South Kesteven District Council in order to obtain planning permission.
The development in now complete and we have a high-quality complex that incorporates four offices and a communal area. The building blends in well with the surrounding area and the site includes a community garden and adequate parking. The complex is energy efficient and well insulated to minimise the running costs and its impact on the environment.
We feel that the enhanced development meets objective of bringing new life to the site and will be beneficial to the local community. Now it is complete we are impressed with how then development is sympathetic to the local conservation area while adding value to the site.

Graham Thompson
Chair Deepings St James United Charities

 

Press

The Architects Journal: Communities - December 2024

Architecture Today - January 2024