Campion School, Leamington Spa

CGJ Services have recently completed works at Campion School, Leamington Spa. The project stretched from a design period beginning in summer 2021, finally completing in summer 2022.

Campion School was formed in 1977, and is a mixed 11 to 18 secondary school. It mainly serves South Leamington, whilst also taking pupils from other areas of Leamington and Warwick.

CGJ Services were originally approached to assist with the design and cost development of the project, in conjunction with the main contractor and architect, engineering the costs and services in order to meet the available budget, comprising of a renewal of the Sports Centre, modifications to 2 existing teaching areas and a new Sixth Form block.

In the existing science block, it was decided that a number of science classrooms could be repurposed for general teaching. The existing gas and domestic services were capped off at source to enable their total decommissioning, and the redundant services removed.

These spaces were extensively refurbished with new, modern wall and ceiling finishes, and new heating, LED lighting, power and data services installed to suit the new classroom layouts and to facilitate the installation smart teaching walls. Existing ventilation systems were renewed.

It was decided that existing Metalwork, Technology & Engineering Workshops within the Forge Building were to be decommissioned, and be transformed into a Drama Space & Food Refectory.

The metalwork, technology & engineering workshops within the Forge Building have been transformed into a drama space & food refectory.

These spaces have warm air heating, comfort cooling, and variable lighting to create scene effects suitable for drama purposes.

The refurbished teaching spaces, drama space & refectory were completed in Spring 2022

The existing Sports Centre was apparently only meant to be a temporary building, and staff had complained over many years that the space suffered from low temperatures. Upon inspection, it was found that the fabric was not conducive to heat retention, and the initial thoughts were to replace the roof fabric, and provide upgrade of the external walls to enhance the insulation levels, thereby improving the ‘U’ values.

Sadly, the existing building framework was not of sufficient strength to accommodate the proposed alterations, and an agreement was reached to demolish the existing sports centre and replace it. Fortunately, the costs for demolition and replacement were not far in excess of the costs for enhancement, however it meant that there would be more disruption.

The new Sports Centre building effectively became a reimagining of the existing space, built to modern construction values.

Roof mounted natural ventilation units were installed, with heating via radiant panels fed by low pressure hot water. A new gas fired heating plant was provided to serve this area, and the system was designed to suit modification later when the school moves to a renewable heat source in the future.

New LED lighting was employed, and all services were designed to suit the use of the space for both sports purposes and for the sitting of exams.

The Sports Centre was completed in June 2022.

Finally, a new, two storey Sixth Form complex was built to comprise of staff workrooms, teaching, study and social spaces. These are all linked by a centralised Reception atrium with decorative lighting.
Staff and teaching spaces have been fitted with data and small power outlets as required, with domestic water services to all sanitary and catering appliances.

All spaces utilise LED lighting. An air source heat pump array is located outside the building to provide LPHW heating via concealed systems located in the voids and radiators in transitory areas.

The building is ventilated by hybrid mechanical ventilation fan units in teaching spaces, providing a mixture of natural and mechanical ventilation and dedicated mechanical heat recovery ventilation to toilet areas.

Charging points for electric vehicles were installed in the car parking area.

The project was completed in Summer 2022.