Sir Charles Parsons enhance provision with net-zero modular timber building

Sir Charles Parsons is a school for young people aged 11 to 19 who have a range of additional needs.

The pressure on pupil numbers of all ages across Newcastle City was high, so more space was needed in the main building. The solution was to create extra accommodation to form a separate post-16 facility covering the complete curriculum.

TG Escapes net-zero modular building provides four classrooms and ancillary spaces. It is positioned next to another timber frame building from TG Escapes, the two together creating a self-contained area for 6th-form students. The project was completed in 16 weeks, for £1.1m.

"Staff, parents and students love the buildings"

Pete Trumper, School Organisation and Capital Specialist – Newcastle City Council, said: “TG Escapes buildings are designed to suit unique needs and they also have an understanding of what auxiliary spaces are needed to accompany the basic space and the capacity requirements.

“Staff, parents and students love the two buildings. They love the space and the crisp freshness of their appearance. They are very highly regarded.

“The more organic materials, particularly the timber, link in with the biophilic agenda that we want to embrace. The doors that open out onto nature and the greenness of the space cut away from the institutional feel that you want to avoid. It informalises the learning environment, which is nice.”

‘The school and the council like the outside aspect that the buildings create’

Howard Davies, Project Manager – Aura North East, said: “The school and the council like the outside aspect that the buildings create as we have got verandas and outside cupboard spaces.

“In the classrooms, we’ve got a demanding brief to fit the special needs education that’s being delivered. TG Escapes provided a flexible design solution, along with good quality materials and a high standard of finish.

“We’ve made this new build more sustainable. We’ve been able to implement solar PV on the roof to make the building as carbon-neutral as possible in terms of everything it does so it keeps a lot of people very happy.

“In both this and the previous build we’ve got what’s called a life skills area, which offers a full kitchen for getting the kids to learn how to cook and fend for themselves.”

Please get in touch

For more information, visit www.tgescapes.co.uk, call 0800 917 7726 or email info@tgescapes.co.uk