Shower and changing room refurbishment at secondary school

Education

10 Jan

Overview

Churchmead Secondary School is a fairly small mixed Church of England School welcoming students of all faiths between the ages of 11-16. They came to Focus Washrooms in need of a total refurbishment of all of their boys’ and girls’ changing and shower rooms over the summer.

This project was an entire refurbishment so everything needed ripping out and replacing. The private showering facilities had to of course be compliant with DFE regulations so strict design and build procedures were put in place during our planning phase.
Working closely with our client, we drew up extensive plans that would replace all walls and floor finishes, WC’s, wash stations, showers, cubicles and changing benches. Considerations were given to appropriate lighting solutions, hand dryer facilities and an efficient extractor system.
Whilst the area was predominantly designed with practicality, cost and quality of material front of mind, it was also important that the space looked fresh and welcoming to students. A bright colour scheme was chosen that included pale lavender in contrast with vibrant Caribbean blue. This was set against smart timberwolf woodgrain.
In the shower areas, for ease of cleaning and maintenance, white hygienic wall cladding was specified. And all sanitary ware was white. Trovex cubicles were installed also. These cubicles are a good option for schools and high traffic areas as they offer outstanding robust durability and deliver long serviceability – plus they look great.
The project was carried out from the start of the summer holidays and finished a couple of weeks into the term but it’s worth noting that there were some supply chain shortages that impacted this project. The team were challenged in sourcing specific materials due to the effects of both COVID and Brexit so the project overran slightly. However, at each step of the way, the Focus Washrooms team kept the client updated and completed the project as soon as they were able.
The work took place over the summer holidays, so there was zero disruption to school activity. Having said that, our team are experienced in carrying out major washroom refurbishments in term time with little to no disruption. Our team are delighted to have been asked to survey the next phase of another project, so we look forward to working with the team at Churchmead on future projects.
The final result was a simple, colourful and engaging space where students could feel comfortable.