The Colchester Sixth Form College, Essex

Student Recreational Building

Company: Cadman Construction Ltd | Category: Education

The construction of a single storey, split level, ground floor student area, built on a steep slope adjacent to the Roman wall in Colchester.

The site footprint is of particular historical archaeological interest, and a shallow raft foundation was chosen for the substructure design. Ground consolidation techniques were used to stabilise the soils at this shallow depth, whilst retaining undisturbed archaeological artefacts.

A castellated steel frame was used as the primary structure with a single ply membrane roof covering, supported on timber joists. Walls were a mixture of rendered blockwork and curtain walling.

Internally, the castellated steel frame was exposed with an acoustic plasterboard ceiling at high level. Mechanical service ducts (spiral) ran between the castellations, to create a modern industrial feel.

A green roof completed the highest level of the building, which when viewed from the main roads, around the site is barely visible.