The proposed three-storey extension to the existing Guildford High School will incorporate new music & drama facilities adjacent to the existing recital hall. The scheme proposals include provision for new drama studios at ground floor and music rehearsal rooms & classrooms at first-floor level with practice/ rehearsal rooms, classroom facilities, equipment storage and plant.

The scheme proposals also include the refurbishment of existing facilities to provide an enhanced creative space for digital creativity and learning that will enable the school to maintain its position as a first choice in the south of England, backed by high quality accommodation and facilities.

Dice was instructed to undertake the detailed civil & structural design associated with RIBA work stages 01 – 06 respectively. This resulted in the management of numerous challenges and existing site constraints which included co-ordination of the proposed school extension’s sub-structure with the existing school building and the adjacent trees, which were subject Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Due to the characteristics of the music hall, Dice structural engineers had to develop an economic structural design which enabled long spans to be provided, whilst also ensuring that the proposed structural zones are kept to a minimum in order to reduce the overall height of the building. The clients brief also required us to minimise the number of columns, with no columns proposed in the music hall and drama studios altogether.

Extra care was taken to ensure that associated vibration and acoustic transfer was kept to a minimum so as to avoid crossover of noise/ vibration to the drama studio from the music hall above. Provision of a sloped roof all around the perimeter of the building at second floor to roof level resulted in a need to introduce cranked beams as part of the superstructure design. High levels of M&E co-ordination were required so as to mitigate any clashes associated with the restricted structural &service zones.