Education
ALN / Primary / Secondary / Tertiary
Bridgend College
Bridgend College’s new campus development is to be located in Bridgend Town Centre and will comprise two new six storey buildings. The campus will provide a wide range of teaching facilities including for performing arts, music and editing, art, hair and beauty, catering and hospitality and childhood studies and will include a 200-seat auditorium with stage and facilities suitable for music and theatre productions. Helios have already delivered the fire strategy up to RIBA Stage 4 and are currently providing RIBA Stage 5 and 6 construction support to the main contractor.
Interesting challenges included justifying single stair access to the smaller block and to the upper floors of the main building both of which have floors over 18m, including utilising CFD modelling. In addition, fire engineering justification was required to justify the occupancy level on the upper floors providing detailed fire engineering evacuation calculations in conjunction with the CFD modelling.
Image Courtesy of Bridgend College/Rio Architects
University College School, Hampstead
Helios were engaged to undertake RIBA Stage 2 fire safety strategy works and a planning statement for a new three storey education building with sports facilities located on the roof at UCS Hampstead school. Fire service access and means of escape were challenging due to the position of the existing buildings and the split level nature of the site.
Image Courtesy of Ed Toovey Architects
Wheatridge School, Gloucester
Helios were engaged from RIBA Stage 2 onwards to provide a fire safety strategy for the new all through two storey school located at The Wheatridge in Gloucester. The school will cater for up to 200 primary and secondary school pupils with moderate and additional learning difficulties. A Technical Void Assessment was included for the project with mitigating factors addressed that included an L1 fire detection and alarm system and mist suppression protection. Works started on site in 2025 and Helios will be providing support through RIBA Stages 5 and 6.
Image Courtesy of Robothams Architects