The document discusses converting an existing office building into a school building to overcome limitations of time, space, and money. It describes the history and context of Bristol Cathedral Choir School needing to reduce class sizes and convert a building. It then details considerations for converting the 4-story office building, including meeting building regulations for fire safety, sound, sanitation, heating, and accessibility, as well as designing for passive supervision, flexible classroom space, and a sustainable environment. Lessons learned from the project could help other teams with similar conversions.

3. Context

4. History 800 years old Little spent to upgrade existing buildings School – reducing numbers Academy status Opportunity to convert office block into a school building

9. Existing building Spec built shell and core 4-storey + undercroft Open plan office space

10. Existing building Floor levels Access Acoustics

11. Existing building Steel frame, composite deck Suspended ceiling with fan coil units Electrical distribution by raised floor

12. Existing building Ground floor plan Approx 300m 2 per floor nett

13. Existing building First floor plan

14. Existing building Section 2.6m 2.7m 2.6m

15. Existing building Structural loadings Environmental loadings Daylight penetration

16. Existing building Third floor

17. Opportunities

18. Opportunities Ground floor Central columns limit options for room layouts Movable walls provide flexibility Classrooms average 57m 2

19. Opportunities Ground floor Open area as ICT resource Office provides passive supervision Environmental control challenging

20. Opportunities First floor plan Teaching spaces for MFL, SEN English Top floor for LRC

21. Building Regs Part B - fire Door swings Stair capacity

22. Building Regs Part E - sound External noise New partitions Fan coil units

23. Building Regs Part G - sanitation Inadequate provision

24. Building Regs Part L - heat Air leakage

25. Building Regs Part M - access No issues

26. Colour Neutral paint colours Maple joinery Stainless steel hardware Lockers

27. Passive supervision Management of students Flexible space Business opportunities Curriculum management FFE Sustainable environment Light

28. Glazing Light Sound Ventilation

30. Leadership team can monitor behaviour without entering the classroom Teachers in office space are aware of behaviour

31. Business environment Student response Paint!

32. Shared Learning Strategic Brief Do your homework Understand the basics – design loadings Structural and Environmental Existing Vertical circulation – restrictions to capacity Daylight Acoustics etc