20 Community centres CI/SfB 532 Uniclass F532 UDC 725.835
Jim Tanner Jim Tanner is a partner of Tanner and Partners
KEY POINTS: There is a need for a community facility in most areas Existing centres are often inadequate
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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Planning and design 3 Elements of the plan 4 Bibliography
1 INTRODUCTION 1.01 Briefing By their nature community buildings must serve a variety of functions among which are:
• Meetings care (creche, day nursery, pre-school playgroup) • Child activities (scouts, guides) • Childrens’ Concerts and • Dances plays • Parties and receptions • Exhibitions • Sporting and leisure activities, and • Adult education. • The client, such as a church or a local authority, may have its own specific requirements; but the financial viability of community facilities usually depends on letting them out to other organisations. At the briefing and planning stage it is wise to consider activities which could or should be accommodated. 1.02 Space requirement and arrangement The following points should be borne in mind: can range from committee meetings of half a dozen • Meetings people to public meetings with an audience of a couple of
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hundred. If this range is anticipated then accommodation should include one or two smaller meeting rooms as well as the main hall. Child care and childrens’ activities invariably require storage for furniture and equipment. If scouts use the facilities on a regular basis, for example, they are likely to need permanent storage for camping equipment, such as tents and poles, and cooking as well as games equipment. Some indoor sporting activities such as badminton, require generous space provision. See Chapter 18. These are likely to dictate the dimensions of the hall.
2.03 Design Community centres are multi-purpose buildings. Needs and priorities will often conflict; the skill of the designer in consultation with the client, statutory authorities and specialists must be exercised so that a balance is struck. All the following factors should be considered.
2.04 Structure and construction Most new-build self-contained community centres are domestic in scale. The most economic forms of construction are those used in domestic building: solid ground floors, masonry load-bearing walls and lightweight flat roofs or framed pitched roofs. Alternative forms of construction are only occasionally justified: for a difficult site or when only a short-life building is required. In the latter case, it is worth considering proprietary off-the-peg buildings. The appearance of such a building is not always aesthetically pleasing, but there are exceptions. Where the community facilities are to be accommodated in a larger building also used for other purposes, structure and construction will be determined by the wider considerations.
2.05 Materials and finishes For self-contained community centres it is worth while designing for minimum maintenance, as upkeep funds are always limited. Choice of finishes should be influenced by the following considerations: Nature of use may dictate forms of construction and finish which are non-standard. For example, when regular provision for dancing (particularly classical ballet) or indoor sport such as badminton or gymnastics is required, the floor should provide some resilience and specialist advice should be sought. Durability: Some uses, particularly sporting activities, can be exceptionally hard on surface finishes. The main hall may need to be equipped with retractable bleacher seating as used in sports centres and educational buildings. Pulling out and stacking back such seating creates localised loading and wear. Resilient floors are particularly vulnerable. The manufacturers of the seating and of the floor finishes should be consulted at an early stage. Safety: Users of a community centre range from small children to elderly and disabled people. Finishes should be chosen with a
2 PLANNING AND DESIGN 2.01 Relationships The principal plan elements and their relationship to each other are illustrated in 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3 are typical examples of the type. 2.02 Space requirements Table I gives recommended floor areas for various functions and activities.
20.1 Elements of the plan of a community centre 20-1
20-2
Community centres
20.2 Church centre for St James’s Church, Finchampstead. Architects: Nye, Saunders & Partners
20.3 Community centre for St Francis Church, Westborough: an example of an addition to an existing building. Architects: Nye, Saunders & Partners
view to safety, all floors, ramps and steps should be non-slip. Projections, sharp corners and angles should be avoided. Cleaning: Community facilities get heavy use and limited operating budgets. The building should be easy to clean. 2.06 Means of escape Care in planning and signposting the means of escape in case of fire is especially important because:
users, such as audiences at occasional concerts and meet• The ings will not be familiar with the building layout. children are likely to be present in a creche or day care • Small centre. and disabled people may use the centre. • Elderly Facilities leisure or educational purposes may be used by • people withforlearning difficulties. Early consultation with the local fire authority is essential.
Community centres Table I Minimum floor areas for various activities Function Main hall: Closely seated audience
Dances
Item
0.46 (based on movable seats, usually armless, 450 mm centre to centre; with fixed seating 500 mm centre to centre will increase to 0.6 m2)
Child care: (creche, day nursery, playgroup) Regulation
Comment
Child care for children in their early years (generally defined as under-8) usually comes within the Children Act 1989 (see Section 3) and local authorities are responsible for approving and registering facilities. Many of these authorities provide published requirements and guidance on standards
0.55 to 0.9 0.9 to 1.1
Creche, day nursery or pre-school playgroup
0–2 years 3.75 2–3 3 3–5 2.5
Children 5–8 years (out of school and holiday schemes, open access projects)
2.5
Meeting rooms
Table II Requirements for child care
Area per person (m2)
Dining
2.25 up to 4 people 2 6 people 1.55 8–12 people 1.25 20 people
20-3
Staffing ratios
0–2 year olds 2–3 year olds 3–5 year olds (minimum staff 2)
1:3 1:4 1:8
Outdoor play
A safe area with easy access from the building is a usual requirement
Catering
The Pre-school Playgroups Association recommends that children and adults should sit together during meals and consequently separate dining accommodation for staff is not required
2.07 Licensing A licence will be required for certain uses and these invariably have conditions attached.
using other types of walking aids. All these have difficulties with steps and changes of direction, and the design of entrances, circulation spaces and toilets should take this into account.
2.08 Noise A community centre is more likely to generate than to suffer from high noise levels. They are commonly used at night and at the weekend, and are often situated within residential communities. They must therefore be designed to avoid nuisance. Where uses take place simultaneously, sound separation will be necessary between a noisy activity such as a dance and one requiring relative quiet such as a lecture. The basic principles of acoustic design should be applied:
2.12 Legislation This is constantly changing. Table III gives some current examples but is not exhaustive. The local authority will advise on the latest requirements. It is particularly important to ensure full conformity if the public are going to be charged for admission.
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Orientation, e.g. location of entrances, exits and windows relative to adjoining buildings Layout Shape of rooms Double glazing, only viable in association with mechanical ventilation Sound-absorbent finishes, balanced with requirements of durability and cleanability, and Landscaping, including trees, to contain external noise.
Unless unavoidable, noise-producing spaces should not be located alongside quiet spaces. Absorbent surfaces may have to be concentrated at ceiling level or provided by means of drapes and wall hangings. Management can also play a significant part in controlling noise and this should be discussed with the client at an early stage. 2.09 Security Community centres are more than usually vulnerable to break-ins and vandalism as they do not have resident caretakers or 24-hour surveillance, are not continuously occupied, are visited by a large number of people, contain expensive equipment and are isolated from other buildings. Requirements for security can conflict with those of means of escape, so it is important to consult with experts and local authorities. 2.10 Child care Table II is a checklist of design considerations where creches, day nurseries or playgroups use the facility. 2.11 Disabled people There are statutory regulations relating to access for disabled people. These apply not only those using wheelchairs but also include people with visual and auditory impairments and those
Table III Legislation Legislation
Comment
Licensing Act 2003
Legislation requires that a licence is obtained for premises which are to be used, regularly or occasionally for the following purposes:
Public music or public music and dancing Public performance of plays Cinematograph exhibitions to which the public are admitted on payment Cinematograph exhibitions for children who are members of a cinema club Indoor sports entertainment Statutory requirements must be satisfied in terms of means of escape in case of fire and other safety considerations. Administered by the local authority The Children Act 1989
Covers requirements for premises used by children in, for instance, day nurseries, playgroups, creches, out-of-school clubs, holiday play schemes, adventure playgrounds and open-access projects. Administered by the local authority
3 ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN 3.01 Entrance This should be large enough to accommodate an influx of people, such as prior to a meeting or concert. Signposting should be clear as many will be unfamiliar with the building. Unless there is a separate goods entrance, it should allow for bulk delivery of food and drink, display material and equipment. Consider the arrangement of the doors, the durability of surfaces and easy accesses to both the kitchen and the hall. 3.02 Hall For sports purposes refer to Chapter 18. A rectangular shape is likely to be suitable for a wider range of uses than a square or any other shape. If black-out is required, pay special attention to size and location of windows; mechanical ventilation may be needed.
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Community centres
3.03 Meeting rooms If more than one, make them different sizes. Aternatively, have one space that can be divided using sliding folding doors; although some of these do not provide adequate sound insulation. At least one meeting room should have direct access to the hall.
3.04 Toilets Separate toilets will be needed for men, women and disabled people. There may also be a need for smaller toilets for little children. Unisex baby-changing facilities should be provided. If considerable sports usage is expected, showers will be necessary for each sex.
3.05 Kitchen There should be little need for more than a domestic kitchen. If catered functions are expected, provide space for setting out and final preparations.
3.06 Storage A separate store should be provided for each main use:
• Kitchen • Sports and other furniture • Seating • Creche/kindergarden • Scouts. The kitchen store should be directly accessible from the kitchen, the others from the hall. Storage space should be as generous as space and budget will allow. 3.07 Furniture Refer to trade catalogues, and seek specialist advice.
4 BIBLIOGRAPHY PPA Guidelines, published by the Pre-School Playgroups Association