A Grammar school for boys has opened its new £3.2m sixth form centre which features a ‘striking’ finish thanks to the specification of EQUITONE [tectiva] fibre cement facade material.
Westcliff High School for Boys, in Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, needed the expansion after an increase in pupil numbers.
EQUITONE [tectiva], a through coloured fibre cement material, was chosen not only for its aesthetically-pleasing natural appearance with its fine sanded surface, but for its robustness, which eliminates the need for on-going maintenance or replacement.
The new 1,200 m2. sixth form centre, which officially opened in May 2017, combines study areas and social spaces for around 350 students.
The two-storey building includes a large multi-purpose space for group work, concerts and events. It also has four classrooms, two science labs, office space, a café and a kitchen.
David Partridge, director of resources and support services at Westcliff High School for Boys, hailed the project a major success. He said: “Our sixth form has expanded significantly over the past six years so we needed more space to accommodate the growing number of students.
“Through this project, we wanted to create an environment which prepares students for university – the new centre offers this perfectly with an environment to do both private study and group work.
“As a school, we’re quite traditional and our buildings reflect this so for this project, we wanted something a bit different that stood out and put us on the map. The building is a statement and it has been very popular with students.
“We’re very happy with the finished project. It has given us a lot more space and the building is very striking from the outside.”
EQUITONE [tectiva] was used as the main rainscreen facade due to it being a lightweight yet an extremely durable material.
The project architect at Barton Willmore, said: “EQUITONE [tectiva] was selected for its natural looking appearance and also because it is very robust, with a lifespan of over 50 years.
“The other buildings at the school are very traditional in their appearance; we wanted to be sensitive to these existing structures but also make sure the new sixth form centre stood out from the crowd. EQUITONE [tectiva] was the perfect material that allowed us to create a very modern looking and on trend building.”
EQUITONE [tectiva] is a through coloured fibre cement material that offers elegant shades of natural colour providing a unique aesthetic effect.
Characterised by the fine sanded lines and naturally occurring hues within the material, these enhance the natural matt appearance, which comes to life with the effects of light and shade.
All EQUITONE materials are available in a range of colours, finishes and fixing options giving full creative scope.
