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Building schools for the future

Halifax High at Wellesley Park

The prominent feature of the Wellesley Park site is the grouping of former Duke of Wellington's regiment buildings dating back to the 1880s, grouped around the central area.  The major buildings looking onto this area include three listed buildings (the original Commanding Officer's house, the original Officers' Mess and the original Keep).  There are also two barrack blocks (Musgrave and Wellington) and ancillary buildings.

The retaining of the existing listed buildings formed an important grouping around the cricket pitch, which influenced the development of the proposal for this site.  The Officers' Mess was considered to be viable for conversion.  There is ready provision for disabled access, due to its previous use for Social Services, using the opportunity to remove recent internal partitions where possible to allow better use of the building without compromising its general status as a Grade II listed building.

A number of existing buildings within the curtilage of the site required listed building consent for demolition.  The retention of Musgrave and Wellington blocks acted as a catalyst for the new school development.  These former dormitory buildings were of adequate depth to create standard sized classrooms for general teaching purposes or for practical subjects.  The main school was located behind these two buildings, the central portion of which extends forwards into the gap between the two barracks, thereby creating a focus to the new school.  The lateral space between the two buildings was treated as a covered external space, having a balcony giving access into first floor rooms within the barrack blocks.  Whilst being converted but not heated, this space allows circulation and shelter during break periods, and is a vibrant heart to the school community.

Facilities for third party use are located at the extreme western end of the new building arrangement.  This is adjacent to the location of the all-weather pitch.  The existing bowling green, tennis court and retained nursery areas will continue to be used by external users.

Externally, the intended arrangement allowed the existing cricket pitch to be extended as requested by Sport England.  Staff and visitor car parking has been provided in the site of the demolished building and the east boundary of the site.

By arranging the school across the centre of the site, it effectively created a public frontage to the south of these buildings, and a private area to the rear, assisting in creating a secure environment throughout the school day.  In effect, the main school building forms part of a secure boundary.  Areas to the front of the school offer access to members of the public, and are closely monitored by CCTV equipment.  This is especially important for parking and bus lay-by areas.  There is also CCTV coverage in areas of the building where third party users may interface with the school (sports hall, dining room and public library etc).

In summary, the development maximised the features of the existing site in terms of building uses of appropriate nature and enhanced their grouping around an enlarged central green space, making the most of the existing settings of these listed buildings.

© Image supplied by Aedas

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