The high performing school for 11-18 year olds had to make the valuable space it had in its hall and stage building much more useful for its 1300 students. The solution was to refurbish the large 1950's hall and to separate it with folding partitions. When open the partitions would allow the hall to perform the usual functions of providing a good venue for large performances and open evenings as well as providing good teaching spaces for two classes of drama and a permanent area at the back of the hall for assemblies when closed.
The challenge came when creating the assembly area. Andy Ferris of Building Additions explained, "Our folding fabric partition was specified for this area but because of the suspended ceiling design, there was no support for the partition to be top-hung. We therefore provided a floor supported model and concealed the floor track so that it would not be a tripping hazard."
For the stage area, double 'operable' folding walls were installed so that the stage and the area in front became teaching rooms when closed. Here Building Additions used its Acoustic model with sound reduction properties so classes could be held simultaneously.
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