Sarah Bonnell School
The new building provides an enlarged dining hall and new music teaching and practice rooms, alongside alterations to existing teaching spaces, staircase extensions, new building services and associated external works.
The project was delivered within a live school environment, requiring careful management of access, deliveries and pedestrian routes to minimise disruption to staff and students. Budget constraints also threatened the viability of the scheme, creating a need for innovative solutions that could reduce costs without compromising quality or programme.
Working closely with the client and design team, Sinden carried out an extensive value engineering exercise, including the careful removal, storage and reuse of existing curtain walling within the new extension.
A dedicated gateman managed site logistics, while deliveries were scheduled outside peak school hours to maintain safe access throughout the project.
Sustainability measures included the installation of photovoltaic panels and a green roof, helping to improve the environmental performance of the building.
The value engineering strategy generated significant savings and enabled the project to progress while meeting budget and programme requirements.
Despite the constraints of a live school environment, the works were delivered with minimal disruption to daily activities. The completed development provides modern dining and specialist music facilities that support the school's future needs while complementing the character of the existing school buildings.
