Specialist facilities
which could overstimulate the children using the building.
Lighting has also played an important part in the adaptability of common-use spaces, including the assessment suites. Early consultation illustrated the diverse and changing preferences of children with autism, as well as the potential fixation or negative behavioural reaction to change. With this intelligence, early concepts of ‘themed’ rooms or permanent differing decoration were discarded in favour of a multi-functional, adaptable solution. Combined with diffused and dimmable task
lighting are colour change LED fittings ,which have been recessed to the room’s ceiling perimeter to provide indirect, variable colour washing to the walls to aid child engagement. Colours can be pre-determined based on individual child preferences to assist the pre-visit preparation, or can be selected by the child in situ via an in-room application and used as part of the engagement or assessment process.
An assessment suite with colour-changing LED wall wash.
considered, with full calculations being undertaken for each room within the building, supplemented with CATT acoustic ray tracing models for the atrium and assessment suite spaces. “From good practice guidance for
reverberation times in atria of circa 1.5 seconds, it was proposed to achieve less than 1.2 seconds, and with later iterations of the design model – with absorption provided using Class A wall panel absorbers to the upstands between floor levels – the reverberation was predicted to be approximately one second. Additional absorption was provided to the space through Class A absorbent ceiling tiles to each floor level, carpet floor finish to the upper levels, and a Class D slatted timber absorber to the underside of the roof structure. Subsequent testing of the design at project completion (prior to soft furnishings), resulted in a value of just 0.8 seconds, with measurements averaged over each of the three storeys.
ASSESSMENT SUITES
“For the assessment suites,” Christopher Lalley continued, “initial design looked at meeting the BB93 criteria for primary school classrooms of 0.6 seconds; however, further to client consultation and design team discussion, it was proposed to meet a value of 0.4 seconds considered suitable for persons with special hearing or communication needs. In combination with the Class A absorbent metal tile ceiling with plasterboard surround, a full-height, impact-resistant Class A absorbent wall panel was accommodated to one wall within each space. Subsequent testing at completion demonstrated the reverberation time criteria to be achieved within each of the measured spaces.
“Site inspections were carried out
throughout the build process to identify common causes of acoustic weaknesses in partitions, and guide the contractor on the best practice and good acoustic detailing for the walls and floors, which was particularly challenging given the curved nature of the walls within the building, and the sloping aspect of the roof structure.
“All of the above has been undertaken against budget constraints, which, given that the building has been undertaken for a charity, has resulted in excellent build quality and high levels of acoustic performance throughout.”
LIGHTING
Caudwell Children CEO, Trudi Beswick, with the charity’s founder, ‘entrepreneur and philanthropist’, John Caudwell.
An important part to the overarching design strategy for the CICC was the building’s relationship to the natural environment, demonstrated in the building’s location in a semi-rural setting, and the use of accessible outdoor spaces, as well as the use of materials and glazing to allow for natural light. To complement the natural feel to the indoor spaces, all lighting utilised in the building is specified to be flicker-free and to have a semi- warm white light temperature of circa 3800 k (soft white). In addition, solar-controlled glazing has been utilised throughout the building to reduce solar glare, and thus minimise the risk of disorientating pools of light and shadows
COMING TO OUR SENSES
The design and construction of the Caudwell International Children’s Centre has taken four years, but it has taken me 11 years to get to this point. Later this year we shall be opening the doors for the first time, and welcoming our first families onto the new Caudwell Children Autism Service. In developing this project we are directly and practically addressing challenges relating to the understanding and awareness of autism and neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as the assessment and intervention of the condition. It is my hope and mission to use the lessons
learnt in the construction of the CICC to better the built environment for everyone by highlighting the needs of people with hidden disabilities, and championing truly inclusive design. If we all come to our senses and include all disabilities at the very beginning of the design process, we can create more inclusive and enjoyable spaces for everyone. There is so much we have learnt and could describe about the CICC – far more than I could fit into this article – so I encourage anyone with an interest in our journey to come and visit us.
l To find out more about the CICC and Caudwell Children, visit:
www.caudwellchildren.com
Trudi Beswick
A successful textiles entrepreneur and former director in the Caudwell Group, CEO of Caudwell Children, Trudi Beswick, has been the driving force at the charity since its inception in 2000. Over the past 17 years she has orchestrated its continued growth, developing it from a small local charity to a national organisation that helps over 7,500 children each year, and has become an influential voice within the voluntary sector. She is passionate about Caudwell Children’s impact and legacy, and it was her vision to develop the new Caudwell International Children’s Centre – which is due to open later this year – and to further the charity’s work to have both national and international significance.
THE NETWORK OCTOBER 2018 17
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