Walter Strachan Art Centre

location: Bishop's Stortford College
project title: Walter Strachan Art Centre
client: School Art Department
area: 100 sq m
procurement method : D & B (with novation)
completed: Jan 2009

There was considerable debate with the planning and conservation department on the siting and design of the external appearance, and a scheme was finally agreed with the planners in April 2007.

The approved scheme sits down at a low level, with one end of the building recessed into the ground by around 1.2m. This allowed the opportunity to create a grass amphitheatre surrounding a sculpture outside the front entrance.

The design of the building itself is a simple and efficient shape with the central circulation space and entrance doubling as exhibition space.

The upper floor accommodates the 6th form rooms, IT, and print room. The 6th form room would also double as further exhibition space with a central dividing acoustic screen being able to be set at right angles to allow for a flexible hanging space for end of year shows and other exhibitions.
The building itself consists of a steel frame skeleton supporting laminated timber roof beams that in turn support a solid timber roof deck.

Walter Strachan Art Centre

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