The project encompassed three phases and includes some elements of refurbishment and infrastructure upgrades. The brief was to provide a landmark building that would raise the profile of the school, provide a new focal point on the main school façade and deliver high-quality facilities for the pupils. Facilities include practice rooms, percussion rooms, an ensemble room, music technology rooms, instrument stores, art classrooms, kiln rooms, admin offices and general classrooms, as well as a foyer and backstage spaces to support the theatre.

The design incorporates a number of sustainable features, including high levels of natural light; natural ventilation in non-performance spaces; excellent airtightness values; high levels of insulation; heat reclaim ventilation in performance and serviced areas; efficient lighting and control; and a building energy management system. The roof of the Auditoria is covered with photovoltaic panels to generate renewable electricity. The project has been designed to meet the planning authority’s 20% renewable requirement and has been granted a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’.  

All three phases of the project were tendered in Jan 2011 using a traditional procurement process and the tenders all came back within budget. Skelly & Couch was appointed to provide full M&E, environmental, acoustic and co-ordination design services. The project is one of a number being undertaken by Skelly & Couch at the school.