The Stepnell team recently began work on the year-long construction programme to create the Eversfield Sports and Performing Arts Centre – the E.SPACe – comprising a brand-new multi-functional school hall and swimming pool.
The new multi-purpose hall will triple the Prep School’s indoor sports space, providing facilities for badminton, mini tennis, mini basketball, indoor hockey and cricket. The hall will also be used for large assemblies, drama performances and other major school events and will include extensive performance and rehearsal space. The project will also involve the relocation of the school’s existing outdoor swimming pool which will be brought under cover. A new foyer, office and reception area will be built linking the hall and indoor pool to the existing sports changing rooms.
The 7.4 metre-high hall building will feature part brick and part render, with translucent Kalwall panels at either end letting in natural light. The enclosure for the 20-metre pool will be finished in brick with Kalwall rooflights. Solar photovoltaic panels will also be installed to generate some of the building’s electricity needs.
The project is designed by architects Roberts Limbrick with the construction programme set to be completed in July 2015.
Stepnell construction director Bill Haynes says: “This is a very exciting project which will create leading-edge sporting and arts facilities for Eversfield. The project will see our team drawing on their considerable experience of working in busy ‘live’ environments in order to ensure that any disruption to the Prep School’s usual routine is minimised. We have a strong record of delivering exceptional educational buildings and are pleased to be using that expertise in partnership with Eversfield Preparatory School to create this superb centre.”
