First of three projects completed for Pangbourne College in Berkshire
New sustainable music and ICT complex opens

Beard has completed a £1.5m two-storey communications complex at Pangbourne College, providing a new home for Music and ICT departments in an ultra modern sustainable building at the heart of the school, with music teaching and practice rooms, instrument stores, recording studios, a recital hall and ICT classrooms.

Strong interaction with school staff and considerate working practices to minimise noise and disruption were essential during the yearlong project. The team undertook especially disruptive phases, including site set up and enabling works, during school vacation periods starting with the 2011 Easter break. This ensured that work could continue in a single phase in a fully segregated site enclosed with solid screening.

The finished building uses aluminium and cedar cladding and employs passive ventilation techniques, solar shading, high levels of insulation and natural lighting to achieve design and sustainability targets.  Successfully integrating these aspects was crucial for College goals and the team supported this with a comprehensive waste management plan to ensure the maximum re-use and recycling of construction materials.

Thomas Garnier, Headmaster said: "Beard were chosen for the quality of their work and for their reputation. From the outset we have been impressed by their willingness to listen and their emphasis on good working relationships."

John Youle, Beard construction director added: “Achieving the acoustic properties of the building with the appropriate levels of sound insulation for music practice and recital rooms together with the environmental targets was a key goal for this high quality school building. We are now focussing all our efforts on the new St George’s Boarding House and a new cricket pavilion, both of which will be completed in the summer.”