Creating an exceptional learning environment was at the heart of the brief for a new high school and sixth form in Cardiff.
Cardiff West Community High School was constructed as part of the £164m City of Cardiff Council 21st Century Schools Programme.
Led by contractor Willmott Dixon, the £31m school opened in 2019 providing space for 1,200 secondary students and more than 300 sixth-formers.
The site consists of three separate but closely linked buildings built around a publicly accessible plaza, placing an important emphasis on the use of outdoor space.
Raising aspirations and skills through the provision of better education facilities called for a wide range of products from Broxap Street Furniture.
Two Twin Parasol Tensile Structures were installed at the centre of a large, sunny hard landscaped area.
Providing a shaded, airy, covered space for dining and socialising, the canopies were given a waterside finish to protect the structures from the elements.
A single Fixed Square Parasol was also provided for a smaller, fenced off area.
Many of the shared areas inside the school building were designed as open plan to build a sense of community.
This theme was followed in the outdoor areas too with 26 Burnpark Picnic Benches provided for students in the school grounds.
A mix of seating was supplied under the contract to encourage different groups of students, staff and visitors to make use of the grounds, with eight Bethesda Benches located in quiet areas.
Two Saturn steel and FSC-certified Timber Circular Benches offer comfortable spots for groups to sit and chat, while five Gorton concrete cubes offer alternative seating.
Two cycle parking areas are defined with cycle racks and shelters.
The first area features two standard runs of Apollo shelters with a combined capacity for 28 cycles, as well as two customised Cambridge Junior Cycle Shelters, each accommodating 20 bikes. Senior Sheffield Cycle Racks provide secure locking points for the cycles.
A third Customised Cambridge Junior Cycle Shelter was designed and manufactured for the second cycle parking area, with space for 20 bikes.
To ensure safety for pedestrians, 35 Hastings flat top bollards help to mark out footpaths and guide people around the school grounds, with seven Lift Assist Manual Telescopic Bollards supporting access control.
A total of 20 Synergy Recycling Bins are located around the school and a series of door barriers help to protect pupils and ensure the longevity of the new building.
Year Completed:
2019
Project Value:
£130,000
Location:
Cardiff, South Wales
Products in this case study:
Share:
