Bradfields SEN School

Bradfields Academy is located in Medway and is a specialist SEND provision that provides education for students who experience complex learning disabilities and difficulties [CLDD]. This includes speech, language, emotional, sensory, physical and autistic spectrum disabilities.

The Design Collective were appointed to work as part of the Contractors design team to deliver the detailed design of the services infrastructure and systems to deliver this new teaching and activity block for the students. The block provides 12 additional classrooms, a further 4 small teaching rooms and 2 larger double height activity spaces with associated changing areas. The building achieved a short build programme of 8 months following hard work from the site team and implementing the design and construction of cross laminated timber methodology.

The CLT in conjunction with energy-efficient MEP systems allows the new building to minimise impact on the environment, both during construction and in use. CLT was considered to be the ideal solution for the project to achieve the short construction period.

New air source heat pump technology provides environmental conditioning throughout the building to provide a heat source and where required allows for cooling to the activity spaces. PV arrays on the roof help to further reduce the impact of the building by generating on site electricity. Electric Vehicle charging has been incorporated as part of the scheme to help support not just planning but to follow the school drive to enhance its green credentials.