Wardle Academy

Define were approached by the Watergrove Trust to help provide additional classrooms at Wardle Academy as the Councill had identified that extra places were required for local students (circa. 400). Funding for the project was agreed if the Trust could deliver the additional places by the following school year.

Worked collaboratively with the Trust, the project focused on designing and delivering a high-quality scheme within an extremely short time frame.

Perceived as a black ‘wedge’ slotting behind brick buttress piers; The new teaching block echoes the style and form of the existing campus structures, ensuring a coherent campus identity.

With a limited funding pot provided by Rochdale Borough Council, and so the materials used had to be cost effective. Red facing brick and black, sinusoidal aluminium cladding were drawn from the palette of the adjacent WaterSHED. The restricted palette had to be used creatively, mirroring the rhythm of the buttresses on the former sports hall opposite. The black-clad element followed the datum set by the WaterSHED link building, appearing to ‘slot’ behing the project brick piers. The scheme also draws on the piers of the adjacent swimming pool block to provide a contemporary yet sympathetic piece of architecture

The building form is sculpted to overcome the surrounding constraints and the proximity of the neighbouring residential properties; fitting into an awkward and restricted infill site. This has created a part single/ part two storey extension which steps across the facade to maintain minimum distances from the adjacent properties.

By working with the existing levels on site and the stepped form, the scheme creates a sympathetic yet contemporary building.

"Using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) we have adopted a Structural Insulated Panel SIP) system in order to reduce the construction programme; promoting increased thermal performance and sustainable construction in practice."

Anna May

The project is one of many undertaken with the Trust in the past 18 months to achieve a consistant brand and identity across all of their campus’, whilst focusing on the primary aim of improving and expanding the exisitng facilities for the children. An exemplar use of architecture for the community.