Maidenbower Infant School

Background 

Anderson Acoustics was commissioned by Sunninghill Construction to provide acoustic design advice for the refurbishment of Maidenbower Infant School in Crawley.

The refurbishment creates a Special Support Centre for children with Special Educational Needs within this mainstream setting, including new classrooms,        group areas, a sensory room, a calming room, offices, and hygiene areas. 

What we did 

Brought on at RIBA Stage 4, our acoustic design aimed to: 

• Ensure good acoustic conditions suitable for the needs of the users. 
• Identify and mitigate acoustic design risks. 
• Achieve compliance with the target acoustic performance standards. 

We advised on indoor ambient noise levels, internal sound insulation, and reverberation times. Key recommendations included: 

• Class A ceiling tiles with high absorption performance for classrooms, sensory rooms, calming rooms, and group areas. 
• Detailing for high acoustic-rated walls to ensure sound insulation, within the constraints of the existing building fabric. 
• Alternative performance standards for areas where existing conditions limit the ability to meet target standards. 

Ventilation Strategy 

Mechanical ventilation via MVHR units was installed for classrooms, with the premises office and existing shared group room being naturally ventilated. A desktop noise assessment was carried out ensure that noise ingress would be achievable with openable windows to prevent overheating.

We established guidance Noise Rating (NR) criteria for building services systems and assessed the MVHR unit to establish suitable attenuators to achieve target indoor ambient noise levels suitable for children with Special Educational Needs in a mainstream setting. 

Internal Sound Insulation 

We set out airborne sound insulation ratings and constructions for separating walls and doors. 

Room Acoustics 

We set reverberation time criteria for different spaces, including for the Classroom, Group Area, Sensory Room, Calming Room and Office. High performance Class A ceiling tiles were proposed to achieve the targets for the furnished space. 

Acoustic Testing 

A  programme of sound testing was undertaken to demonstrate that targets had been met. 

Conclusion 

The acoustic design for the Maidenbower Infant School refurbishment ensures a conducive learning environment for children with Special Educational Needs.

By identifying risks and opportunities, and implementing effective mitigation measures, we provided a comprehensive acoustic strategy that meets the needs of the school, the staff and children within the constraints of the budget. 

Testimonial 

This was a complicated, but small-scale refurbishment with very limited plant space but we worked closely together with Anderson Acoustics to achieve a greatly improved facility for the children. Colin Coulthard, Design Director