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2A.2
LARGE
SPACES
>
gyms sports halls > dance
studios > assembly halls
>multi-purpose halls >
theatres
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Large spaces will be increasingly used as community resources.
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These spaces take 10 to 20% of the gross area of a school, so they
must be justified by reasonable utilisation.
Large
spaces tend to be either for large gatherings of people (such as
assemblies, meetings, or performances) or for sporting activities.
In primary schools such spaces are usually multi-purpose, often
being used for dining as well as assembly and PE.
Large spaces are not likely to change significantly in the future,
but, as with other school spaces, greater community use and more
integration of those with special needs must be considered. Both
these factors can effect the area requirement.
The provision of such large spaces (usually over 150m2 with a minimum
ceiling height of 3m and taking up a significant proportion of the
overall area of the school) has to be justified by a reasonable
use. Schools will increasingly share these spaces with other schools
and the community as a whole.
Sports
Spaces
Sports spaces are likely to continue to have a high level of community
use. This can help to provide a sports space for a school that may
not otherwise be able to justify such a space (for example a very
small primary school). Sports halls used
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Meeting
and performance spaces
Schools will continue to need space for whole school, year-group
assemblies, performances to an audience and (in the case of
secondary schools) exams. As these spaces have a number of
uses and users, flexibility is essential.
For
example, removable stage and tiered seating allows for
a wider range of uses. Two smaller spaces may be combined
to make a large space for particular occasions.
Community and business use (maybe for film shows or conferences)
demands more specialised lighting and environmental controls
as well as more sophisticated furniture and finishes.
Further guidance on sports and arts spaces can be found in
Sports England publications and Designing Space for Sports
and Arts.
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| ALFRED
SALTER PRIMARY SCHOOL, Southwark, London Good environmental
design, including use of natural daylight, creates an
attractive dining environment for pupils, teachers and
community members. |
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ANTHONY'S SCHOOOL, Hampstead, london Large spaces need
to be well used by both school and community to justify
their area. |
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by the
community should be large enough to adhere to local competition
standards. Community use also affects the nature of supporting spaces
and social areas (see Sections 2A.4 and
2A.5).
The needs of physically disabled people may be met by providing
multi-use sports spaces designed for a range of activities including
those to suit disabled students such as wheelchair basketball. However,
in some cases it may be preferable to provide a separate specially-equipped
fitness centre.
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JEWS FREE SCHOOL,
Brent, London
Sports facilities have been enhanced in this new secondary school
to include a reception and drinks area, meeting spaces, locker areas
and more accommodation for disabled users. There is also provision
for an umpires' area and changing rooms have been split into team
changing areas for community use. |
