The 650m2 children’s nursery on Harrison Drive in central Cambridge is a new build development set within the grounds of the University of Cambridge. The city centre nursery provides 100 places, from 3 months to pre-school age and is available for families of university employees and students. It will employ up to 40 staff across four large nursery rooms, as well as a staff room, office, kitchen, laundry, reception, WCs, and storage areas.

The mechanical and electrical design boasts several green credentials with air source heat pumps serving underfloor heating and providing the hot water, a natural ventilation system to the main areas of teaching and learning, electric vehicle charging points and there is future provision on the roof for a photovoltaic array. The canopied structure has also been designed around a north/south orientation to benefit from natural light.

The nursery structure comprises a glulam portal frame structural solution, with CLT panels for the walls and roof. The building is clad in a mixture of larch cladding, with metal joinery and a zinc roof, with full height glazing and french doors opening on to an outside play area at the back of the plot. The external space is surfaced in rubber and bordered with an acoustic fence to minimise noise for adjacent residents.

Role:

Design & Build M&E Contractor

Client:

University of Cambridge

Main Contractor:

SDC Builders

M & E Consultant:

Roger Parker Associates

Value:

£425K

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