Felpham Children & Family Centre

The Felpham Children and Family Centre, on the site of the Bishop Tufnell School in Bognor Regis, West Sussex was completed on time and on budget using Terrapin’s off-site building technology. The ‘C’ shaped building, designed by architects Felce & Guy, posed no problems for Terrapin’s versatile panel-based Unitrex system, which combines design flexibility with the quality, value and speed associated with off-site construction.

On-site works took just 48 days, resulting in minimal disruption to the school and its neighbours. This was one of the key benefits of Terrapin’s off-site system according Premises Manager, Paul Hull: “The project went very smoothly and was completed in far less time than the traditional building work we undertook at the school last year. The finished Terrapin building looks great and is proving a huge success with the local community.”

Children’s Centres are at the heart of the Government’s strategy to provide integrated education, care, family support and health services to local communities. Terrapin’s building system offered a cost-effective solution for the new centre without compromising design and build standards, and the building has an impressive energy performance asset rating of ‘B’. The facility in Bognor Regis is the latest in a number of centres provided by Terrapin in Sussex and is a single-storey, flat-roofed building with a central covered courtyard accessed via folding doors. The attractive facade combines full height Douglas Fir vertical cladding and circular feature windows. All windows are fabricated from low maintenance aluminium profile in a dark green finish.

The centre’s internal specification provides flexible accommodation for a range of community services and includes a reception, office, meeting room, play areas, kitchen, storage and toilet facilities. The interior design also features curved internal walls and a suspended ceiling with recessed lighting - supplied as standard with all Terrapin’s Unitrex buildings. A comfortable temperature is maintained throughout the year by a thermostatically controlled ‘comfort cooling’ system.

Tony John, Contracts Director for main contractor Frank Sandell and Sons of Worthing, says Terrapin played a key role in completing the project on schedule. “Terrapin’s team didn’t let us down throughout the process and have delivered an excellent building,” he says.

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