Highdown School

This new school hall was designed and procured under a Partnership contract. It was completed in Summer 2007 to provide a multi-function hall, drama studio, main foyer, changing rooms and associated ancillary accommodation for Highdown School in Reading. It is capable of accommodating 1000 plus standing students for short whole school assemblies, 600 seated spaces for performances and half school assemblies, 200 plus students for examination purposes and some sporting activities. Highdown was the only school of its size in the UK without a dedicated assembly hall.

The sculptural faceted shape of the hall was formed by a series of irregular portal frames with secondary members defining the edges of the facets. The facets are formed of zinc cladding fixed back to a structural metal decking in turn fixed to a purlin/steel connection detail. Intricate detailing was required to allow for both the complicated shape and construction tolerances. The glazed front wall was inclined - a first for ‘Reglit Glass’ - in order to improve the hall’s acoustic performance