Our selection of case studies showcase a cross section of recent QODA projects.

Abingdon Prep School

QODA were appointed as M&E services designers for the extension and refurbishment project at Abingdon Prep School. The extension to the school had been initiated as part of a recent programme of investment and will involve the construction of a new music department, CDT and IT facilities, and the provision of new classrooms to provide a permanent replacement for the temporary classrooms currently in use at the back of the school. The new accommodation also enables reorganisation of existing facilities to create a large central library at the heart of the school as a shared resource for pupils of all ages.

Walled Garden, Westonbirt School

QODA were appointed to provide M&E design services for three blocks containing eight new classrooms within a courtyard known as the Walled Garden, at Westonbirt School. Westonbirt School is an independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 2-18, housed in Westonbirt House, a Grade I listed Victoria mansion in the Cotswolds. The Walled Garden encompasses a traditional brick and stone hot wall, bookended east and west by two ornate pavilions. The site previously held the affectionately named ‘old gym’ which was demolished to allow for the new development.

Charterhouse School, Dining Hall, Café Building

QODA were appointed as M&E Engineers for a project to improve the schools dining and café facilities. The project offered various challenges due to the area being within the heart of the school. The designs had to be carefully considered due to the sensitive nature of the building and minimise input of the school’s day to day operation.

Perrot Court, Elizabeth College, Guernsey

QODA were appointed to provide M&E design services for Perrot Court, Elizabeth College. The project involved he refurbishment of a 30-year-old concrete frame commercial building into a modern College building which is fully integrated with the larger campus via a new pedestrian and services link bridge. The building also includes 4 levels of underground car parking which were also refurbished with new services as part of the project.

School Hall and Teaching Block, St Edwards School

QODA carried out the design of the mechanical, electrical, and sustainability strategy for this mix use development at St Edwards School. The facilities comprised of a 1000 seat hall, library, link areas, and teaching spaces. The project is located within an existing quad and required careful design to interface with the adjoining and closely located existing buildings. Innovative solutions were required to accommodate the significant mechanical services in the hall and natural ventilation was designed for the teaching areas and library.

ACS Hillingdon

Our most recent and significant project at ACS Hillingdon involved the design for five sections of work totalling a construction value of approximately £5m. Works involved a rooftop extension to provide heavily serviced science lab facilities as well as refurbishment and main infrastructure upgrades to existing teaching accommodation within listed and non-listed areas of the school. Prior to completion of the extension all, existing services – cold water tanks, AC plant, and electrical distribution serving the main school – were replaced. Careful co-ordination, enabling / phasing strategies, and planning of work around the live environment were all addressed as part of the design development.

Idea Building, ACS Egham

The Ideas Building provides additional teaching accommodation for ACS Egham. The intention is to create a new, whole school, 21st-century learning resource and teaching centre designed to support the IB curriculum, co-located with diploma grade teaching facilities and an SEN unit.

As part of this a dedicated Specialist Education Needs (SEN) unit additional support is offered to students at specific points in the timetable. The inclusion of the SEN spaces in the new building represents a desire to bring them into the heart of the campus in a more visible location. Within the plan for the building, SEN is positioned to offer some privacy, in accordance with advice from teaching staff. These spaces are sized using the recommendations from BB103. The loose furniture will be the differentiating element between these areas and conventional teaching spaces.

New Boarding Houses, St Edward’s School

Following on from the appointment for the Lecture Theatre project, QODA were appointed as part of a team to design two new boarding houses at St Edward’s School. These boarding houses were sensitively located within the southern side of the campus adjacent to the sports fields. Each boarding house accommodated 70 bedrooms, House Masters Flats, Common Rooms and other ancillary accommodation. QODA carried out a detailed infrastructure and renewable energy strategy as part of the early concept works, ensuring the agreed solution met the clients and local planning requirements.

New Dormitory, ACS Cobham

The student experience at ACS must be to the highest standard which is reflected in the recent completion of the 120 bed boarding scheme at ACS Cobham. QODA were appointed as a part of a multi-disciplinary team led by Broadway Malayan Architects following the completion of a strategic campus masterplan. Energy efficiency, consistency in high quality finishes, workmanship, and the speed of construction to allow early occupation were also essential drivers for the school. For these reasons, a modular construction was adopted, allowing all bedrooms and standardised areas to be constructed and fully fitted-out off site.

Existing Dormitory Refurbishment, ACS Cobham

Following the success of the new boarding block, QODA undertook the design for the second phase of the accommodation programme which involves the refurbishment of their existing dorm to house younger years of the school. The most challenging element of this project was maintaining occupation of the building whilst refurbishing and renewing all existing services. QODA were responsible for developing a services and refurbishment design which split the building into three phases.