Photo Credit: BAM Construct UK
BAM Construct UK, a facilities management and property developer in the United Kingdom, recently completed the construction of a new stand-alone section to the President Kennedy School in Coventry. Post 16 Centre at the school — seven classrooms, three laboratories, a first-floor atrium, cafeteria service area and a learning room — was framed with cold-formed steel (CFS).
$6.6 Million Project Completed in 10 Months
Designed by Lucas Architects, the Post 16 Centre envelope is formed from a lightweight CFS framing system. It contains a metal deck supported on purlins at roof level, incorporating feature roof lights and photo-voltaic panels.
The project had an accelerated construction schedule. Work began in December 2020 and had a 10-month completion date. To achieve this timeline, BAM had to redesign the floor system and roof deck support to align with the material availability from suppliers.
The Post 16 Centre envelope is formed from a lightweight cold-formed steel (CFS) framing system. It contains a metal deck supported on purlins at roof level, incorporating feature roof lights and photo-voltaic panels. Photo Credit: BWB
The $6.6 million facility, delivered on behalf of Coventry City Council, provides capacity for an additional 150 students and accommodates the growing population in Coventry.
“We are delighted to have completed this new facility that provides President Kennedy School with much needed additional capacity for sixth form students,” says Dave Ellis, regional director midlands at BAM.
Pat Ford, SFIA technical director, and the pod-like Pope Farm Elementary in Middleton, Wis.
Say Goodbye to the Institutional Look
K-12 schools used to be designed purely for durability. However, Patrick W. Ford, technical director of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) and senior project manager at raSmith in Brookfield, Wisconsin, says that is changing. School districts today want more than just durable facilities, Ford says. They want facilities packed with features.
K-12 schools today are leading the way. While high schools still follow the institutional-style of design, Ford says many K-12 schools have features such as elevated stage framing, data centers, feature walls and interior wall glazings that can’t be built solely with traditional CMU. Such features, he says, also incorporate cold-formed steel framing.
Additional Resources
- 4 K-12 School Design Trends that Make Use of Steel Framing
- Steel Framing Helps Schools See the Light
- Student Housing Counts on Cold-Formed Steel for Safety and Sustainability