Speller Metcalfe completes further redevelopment at Forest of Dean School

Speller Metcalfe’s Gloucester Office, has announced the completion of a further stage of major sustainable re-development at a School in the Forest of Dean.

Having finished the first stage, a design and build project for the Heart of The Forest Community Special School, for children with learning difficulties and special needs in June 2010, the second phase of workshas crucially been completed all whilst the school remained open.

A delighted Andy Metcalfe Joint Managing Director of Speller Metcalfe said: “We are proud to have been able to finish this stage of development at the school with as little disruption for the students as possible. This project has been another fine example of Speller Metcalfe's commitment to sustainable re-development.”

This stage of the project predominantly of timber frame construction,concerningnew key Stage 1 and key Stage 4 teaching spaces, and the construction of a new nursery, features low pitch roofs on exposed Glulam supports. Roof finishes are a mixture of seamed zinc and sedum planting on a single ply membrane sheet with external wall finishes comprising of render and cedar rain-screen systems that offer all weather protection.

A significant part of the development has been the nursery unit, involving a Hemcrete wall insulation solution understood to have been the first use of this material in an education building in the county. Due to the challenging nature of the project and substantial co-ordination of trades required Speller Metcalfe to take the unprecedented step of assuming direct control of the design, manufacture and erection of the timber frame element to ensure strict compliance of the required programme was met.

With the frame manufactured within 5 miles of the site and using local labour and timber sourced from local suppliers, Speller Metcalfe has ensured a truly sustainable approach to the supply chain production of the frame element, a key part of the Speller Metcalfe ethos.

Melissa Bradshaw, Head Teacher at the school commented: “With our location, the need for a sustainable design solution was a pre-requisite, with new building technologies complemented by tried and tested methods. Speller Metcalfe understood from the outset the need for close co-operation with the school so we were welcomed into the Design process and they continued to integrate with school life throughout.”

Funded by Gloucestershire County Council, Speller Metcalfe joined architects Quattro Design, and administrator Adams Fletcher on the scheme.

Issued: 25/05/2011