Hall Grove School – Early Years Building

Also called the ‘Great Barn’, this building was completed in 2016 for Hall Grove School and is their brand new early years facility. The oak frame shown here has created a truly lovely class room for the children and is well loved by all who use it. The truss in the foreground is a ‘sling braced truss’ and is popular in open hall type spaces. In the background we see an ‘upper cruck’ where the cruck blades sit over the main floor bridging beam. You will see more these trusses later.

The initial planning and concept drawings for the project were by Robert Blower Architects. The general building work was undertaken by David Parnell who has a long standing relationship with Hall Grove School. Both have been highly professional in their delivery and have been a pleasure to work alongside. Green Oak Architects took over to complete detailed design and to assist in coordination of the build.

Oak framing is a modular system employing a series of ‘bays’ of structure, creating repetition and rhythm that is at the same time compelling and beautiful. Upper cruck frames used here give an immediacy and intimacy to the timber structure ideal for the classroom environment. The window at the end gives accentuates perspective giving views to the landscape beyond.

A side aisle creates a covered walkway in the courtyard play area of the building. A safe haven for tiny tots to play under cover if the weather is inclement.

This airy light filled classroom utilises a ‘sling braced truss’ also used elsewhere. Curved ‘sling braces’ and ‘stub ties’ provide a raised tie type truss that is highly attractive and ideal for this sort of space. They also have the added advantage that from a structural point of view they work well and our engineers like them!

This external view of the covered walkway and courtyard space, illustrates one of the most attractive characteristics of oak framing, the colonnade. The three centred arch form the opening to the gate and adjoins the old garden wall to the right of the picture. This is a highly successful building and one which will create pleasure for many years to come.