Replacement Building Project - The Russett School, Cheshire

About project

Type: New Build

Value: £870k

Completion: 2023

The Russett School is an all through special academy based in the village of Weaverham in Cheshire and offers specialist education for pupils aged 2 – 19 years with severe learning difficulties (SLD) and/or complex learning needs.

Our design brief consisted of three main elements. The first element was to replace the dilapidated temporary infill building and conservatory at the front of the school with a new fit for purpose modern building. The second element was to address capacity constraints in the upper school through the construction of an infill extension at the rear of the building, providing an additional classroom for KS4 students. The third element was the relocation of the boiler house from within the temporary building to within the new extension and the installation of new energy efficient boilers to serve the southern section of the building.

The new buildings provide state of the art learning resource and teaching areas including therapy, sensory, and nurture rooms. The sensory room has been fitted with specialist sensory furniture including a climbing wall. A new main pupil entrance and corridor linking the new learning resource areas to the existing building have been provided. The design of the building adopts a contemporary architectural approach featuring large areas of glazing and rainscreen cladding. The monopitch roofline provides generous ceiling heights and enables the installation of high-level windows, with large roof lights provided to allow natural daylight within the new corridor.