The brief
Established in the 1950s, the school’s recent £40m transformation was designed by leading architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM). Constructed over a three-phase process beginning in 2011, the distinctive new facilities now host some 2,000 pupils and 200 staff.
The stunning new facilities include six new buildings featuring sculpted concrete facades, set amongst a mature, park-like landscape. The new buildings are set across four 4-storey teaching pavilions, a new sports hall and a new performing arts building, which are placed amongst a number of retained buildings (including two by Sir Leslie Martin) to form a complete and coherent campus, with lawns, squares and a central pedestrian spine.
Each pavilion is made up of wide corridors combined with big windows allowing natural light into the building. The regularity of each plan is followed through to the elevation with faceted, precast concrete panels that correspond to a 7.5 metre structural and classroom module; a development of the prefabricated façade work seen at AHMM’s Dagenham Park Church of England School.
Portsdown were appointed to carry out the procurement of both the loose and fixed furniture for the new Burntwood School. Working closely with the school, contractor and architect, Portsdown developed the initial design scheme produced by the FFE consultant. The school interior design strategy was integrated with the colours and finishes of the loose furniture to create a harmonious FF&E scheme.
Howard Jackson, Deputy Principal, Burntwood SchoolWe had already been using Postura+ chairs in our classrooms for a few years, so we were confident they would be ideal in our brand new buildings
Our solution
Postura+ stacking chairs - Burntwood School selected KI Europe’s iconic Postura+ chair, the classroom chair of choice for the UK’s leading schools. Working with Portsdown Office Furniture, KI Europe delivered over 2,500 locally manufactured Jet Black Postura+ chairs in two sizes, EN5 and EN6.
Kenneth Medlycott, Site Manager, Burntwood SchoolWhen we needed new chairs for our school hall, we ordered more of the Postura+ chairs that we use in our classrooms. The students find them comfortable. They are durable, easy to set up and re-arrange; and stack neatly when not in use. We are really happy with them.
More information
Date - March 2014
Project type - New and refurbished buildings
Project partners - Portsdown Office Furniture, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects
Website - www.burntwoodschool.com
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