OUPUT SPECIFICATION EXAMPLE - EDUCATION PROJECT SCHOOL DESIGN REQUIRED OUTCOME A school design that will inspire all who use it day-to-day, and which will also make a positive statement to the community. The design of the school must also meet all other requirements of this Output Specification in respect of technical and operational performance, compliance with regulations, safety, and so forth. GENERAL QUALITY STANDARDS Bidders are required to demonstrate that their designs for the school: • Maximise the potential of the site. • Locate new building on the site in a manner that will permit possible future extensions. • Create spaces, where appropriate, that combine functionality with an environment that will stimulate and inspire young people. • Make creative use of natural light and materials. • Embody the school's vision statement. • Have imaginative design of social spaces, both internal and external. • Are sensitive to the local environment/context. • Are appropriate to accommodate listed buildings or conservation areas where applicable. • Allow for repair to existing buildings, if appropriate, in sympathetic materials. • Produce clarity - for example, the juxtaposition, physical design and planning logic of entrances, main circulation routes and key spaces should minimise the requirement for direction signage. • Use materials and finishes chosen and detailed in a manner to avoid weather staining which would detract from the appearance of the building • Are, with regard to building services, based on careful selection and location of components to achieve physical integration with the architectural and structural design. • Maximise flexibility of space and usage capability. A method statement is required from bidders on the capability of premises to respond to change overtime. In particular, account must betaken of changes resulting from small variations in pupil numbers, changes affecting dual use of facilities, curriculum changes (influencing, for example, services requirements and acoustic separation of spaces), new IT requirements, security techniques, and environmental performance. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC ELEMENTS ACCESS • The entrance area for the school shall create an appropriate sense of arrival and welcome for pupils and visitors, and shall be of adequate size for peak use. • Advisory: there shall be one supervised and clearly identified entry point to the buildings for visitors. • Entry/exit points for pupils must be strictly controlled. • The design of internal circulation spaces shall form part of an overall architectural concept and strategy, a hierarchy of spaces with a clear organisation and identity. These spaces must not be institutional in character and should be enlivened by views of activities and into rooms where appropriate. • Corridors and circulation areas must comply with Fire Safety requirements (see School Premises Regulations and Constructional Standards). STRUCTURE • All structural engineering design must be to relevant Codes of Practice. It is the responsibility of bidders to ascertain required floor loadings for specialist areas. ROOFS • Noise of rain on certain roofing materials must be considered, and a solution to abate such noise incorporated. • Roof glazing must be provided with means to control solar gain and glare if appropriate WINDOWS • Windows must comply with relevant directives on glazing and workplace regulations. • All windows must be safe in closed or open positions, and must combat solar gain and glare at all times. • Where significant areas of external glazing are exposed to direct sun, Bidders shall provide peak summertime temperature analysis. Where projected temperatures are excessive, steps shall be taken to mitigate them. • Large windows with low sills providing vistas to the outside are desirable. DOORS • All doors in the school buildings must be suitable for their intended purpose, and be sized to meet the anticipated movements within the school. • Locations and requirements for doors for building compartmentation must be agreed with the Fire Authority. Fire standards must be in accordance with relevant School Premises Regulations and Constructional Standards. • Doors must be designed to allow disabled access where appropriate, including access for motorised electric wheelchairs (new facilities only). • All doors must have vision panels where appropriate in new-build situations. • Separate doors are required for deliveries where use of general access routes would create excessive disruption to the operation of the school. FINISHES • Finishes, carpets, etc. for new facilities, and repairs to existing finishes, must be chosen in line with the Council's Environmental Policy [available in the Data Room), and must meet the environmental standards for computer specialist use areas. • Design and choice of finishes must be used to control noise, particularly adjacent to rooms where ambient levels need to be minimised (music, exam rooms). • Suitable colour schemes and textures must be provided to assist people with visual or hearing impairments. • Suitable barrier matting must be provided and maintained at external entrances. • In some areas, particularly robust finishes are required to with stand heavy usage. SERVICES • Pipework, cables and equipment should be easily accessible for maintenance but. wherever possible, hidden from view and made tamper-proof. ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED OUTCOME A school design that will facilitate the successful delivery of the curriculum, and meet all other educational and non- educational requirements as set out in the Output Specification. SCOPE Requirements with respect to: - teaching space requirements; - non-teaching requirements, including sanitary, medical, storage and preparation areas; - administrative accommodation; - community facilities; and - external space. Room data sheets are not provided for existing accommodation. If bidders intend to retain existing spaces, output requirements for environmental and other performance must nevertheless be met. GENERAL QUALITY STANDARDS Bidders' attention should be drawn to detail which gives guidance on school accommodation. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS Spatial relationships must be as required by the Sponsoring Agency. Spaces must perform as required by room data sheets. Bidders are expected to pay particular attention to the need for different types of storage in the school, which should be well integrated and contribute to the good performance of the building. Room data sheets refer to the particular requirements per space. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Teaching rooms should normally be of square or rectangular plan (of proportion approximately 4:5) unless there are special reasons for designing otherwise. Bidders must assess peak loading in circulation spaces and functional relationships within the facility in order to avoid overcrowding. This assessment must take account of safety of occupants, use patterns, functional relationships between different parts of the building, and location of staff and pupils in relation to toilet facilities. |