Discovery Academy

Large secondary academy with extensive performing arts and sports facilities in Stoke-On-Trent, UK

Role: Lead building physicist and mechanical building services engineer (RPS)
Duration: 2010–2011
Project Value: £26,000,000
Building Size: 11,000 m²
Capacity: 1,300 pupils

Description

Lead building physicist and mechanical building services engineer for this large academy delivered under the Stoke-On-Trent Building Schools for the Future framework. The two-storey, 11,000 m² facility was designed to accommodate 1,300 pupils across all secondary school and sixth form subjects. I led a multidisciplinary team consisting of acousticians, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers to deliver a BREEAM Very Good rated building with low energy services throughout.

The academy features extensive specialist facilities including a sports hall, large theatre and performance space, comprehensive music facilities with a performance hall, three drama/music studios, six practice rooms, recording studio and control room. The design incorporated flexible teaching spaces and both indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including a multi-use games area and an astroturf pitch available for community use by local clubs and the wider community.

Key Achievements

  • Delivered BREEAM Very Good rating for 11,000 m² educational facility
  • Led multidisciplinary design team (acousticians, mechanical and electrical engineers)
  • Designed low energy mechanical services for large complex mixed-use educational building
  • Integrated extensive specialist facilities (theatre, sports hall, music studios)
  • Achieved flexible teaching space design accommodating 1,300 pupils
  • Coordinated acoustic design for performance spaces and teaching environments

Technical Skills Applied

  • Building physics and building services engineering leadership
  • Multidisciplinary team leadership and coordination
  • Mechanical engineering design (HVAC, ventilation)
  • Energy modeling and low energy design
  • BREEAM and sustainability coordination
  • Acoustic design coordination
  • Complex mixed-use building services integration
  • Educational building design
  • Project management

Facilities

Teaching Spaces:

  • Flexible teaching accommodation across all secondary subjects
  • Sixth form facilities
  • Two-storey building with 11,000 m² floor area

Performing Arts:

  • Large theatre and performance space
  • Performance hall
  • Three drama/music studios
  • Six music practice rooms
  • Recording studio with control room
  • Music storerooms

Sports Facilities:

  • Sports hall
  • Multi-use games area (available to community)
  • Astroturf pitch (available to community)

Project Images