Alfriston School Swimming Pool

The project was to build a new swimming pool and refurbish an existing hall for a secondary-age Special Educational Needs (SEN) Girls' School in Buckinghamshire immediately next to the Greenbelt. The brief was to provide a landmark building that would raise the profile of the school and provide facilities that could be used by staff, pupils, parents and the local community alike.

Facilities include a main pool hall, changing rooms, chemical stores, plant areas, an admin office, a fitness suite and a small sports hall.

The captivating design, which features a striking, geometrically folded timber roof, incorporated a number of sustainable features, including high levels of natural light, heat pump water heating of the pool coupled with a heat reclaim ventilation system, excellent airtightness values, high levels of insulation, as well as efficient lighting and control. The new pool is predicted to use 70% less energy than the previous open-air pool.

The project was designed to RIBA stage E before going out for a design and build tender. Skelly & Couch were appointed to provide full M&E, environmental, acoustic and co-ordination design services and were novated to the Main Contractor.

Alfriston has been honoured with a 2015 RIBA National Award and two RIBA South Awards, as well as a 2015 Civic Trust Commendation. 

It won the Structural prize in the 2014 UK Wood Awards and was described by judges as 'structure and architecture united'. Alfriston Pool was shortlisted for the British Construction Industry Building Project of the Year 2015 Award (value up to £10 million). The project was also chosen for the RIBA Stirling Prize Midlist 2015 and received a Commendation in the Education or Healthcare Structures category of the 2015 Structural Awards.