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Case Study – Fort Pitt Grammar School – Music, Drama and Dance Refurb

Case Study: Music, Drama and Dance Conversion at Fort Pitt Grammar School 

Project Overview 

Fort Pitt Grammar School in Rochester had poor teaching facilities in its converted Grade 2 listed Florence Nightingale Hospital Building. The project included the strip out (of non-listed items), significant structural wall alterations and reinforcements, extensive refurbishment and remodelling to provide the following new accommodation: 

  • Reconfiguration of building into Five Classrooms. Including two specialist Music Classrooms and 10 music practice rooms. 
  • Specialist Drama Studio with new lighting and sound rigs, black our blinds and retractable curtains. 
  • Specialist Dance Studio with floor to ceiling mirrors and new rig lighting. 
  • Installation of bi-folding acoustic wall between Drama and Dance Studios. 
  • 2 new external fire escape stair cases. 


The works also comprised the installation of new Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air-source heat pump to provide heating and cooling and installation of Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) units.

  • Location: Rochester, Kent
  • Client: Beyond Schools Trust, Fort Pitt Grammar School
  • Sector: Education
  • Project Duration: 2022 – 2024
  • Services Provided: Coordination of Design Team, Specification Writing, Tender, Project Management and Contract Administration 

 

Dedicated music classroom at Fort Pitt Grammar School designed for group practice with extended worktop space and new carpet flooring.
Versatile teaching space at Fort Pitt Grammar School showing upgraded lighting, carpet, and breakout area for student use.
Refurbished modern classroom at Fort Pitt Grammar School featuring wall-mounted screen, new lighting and ventilation system.
Specialist drama studio at Fort Pitt Grammar School with theatrical lighting rigs, blackout blinds and performance-ready interior.
Secondary school classroom with new desks, chairs and AV technology
Modern classroom with display boards and interactive screen
Music practice room with upright piano and acoustic treatment
Bright classroom with interactive whiteboard and new furniture
Refurbished classroom with new ceiling, desks and improved lighting
Small music practice room with drum kit and keyboard
Modern school classroom with desks, computers, and piano for music lessons.
Black box theatre style drama classroom with professional lighting
School exterior showing refurbished drama and music block with new cladding
Drama studio with stage lighting, mirrors and sound system

Our Role / Services Provided 

From initial assessment through to project completion, our team worked closely with the school to provide end-to-end project consultancy services, including: 

  • Initial survey and design options 
  • Leading of full design team to include architect, structural engineer, quantity surveyor, acoustic engineer and planning consultant.  
  • Overseeing planning application submission 
  • Detailed specification writing 
  • Tender issue, evaluation and contractor selection 
  • Contract administration and progress monitoring 
  • On-site inspections and quality assurance reporting 
  • Final snagging and compliance sign-off 

 
Results & Outcomes 

  • School provided with state-of-the-art music, drama and dance accommodation for its students.  
  • Flexible Drama and Dance space provided with acoustic bi-folding wall.  
  • Sustainable VRF system installed reducing carbon footprint from previous cast iron radiators and gas boiler.  
  • Refurbishment and repurposing a historic building.