When Guernsey’s Rural Occupational Workshop (Grow) commissioned design and build of a new community hub and sensory facility, the building needed to adopt sustainability principles while catering for a range of accessibility requirements.
Grow supports adults with learning disabilities and difficulties to develop self-confidence and valuable life skills. The new timber-framed building helped meet the registered charity’s needs by reusing glass houses across two sites, while delivering a range of ironmongery solutions from HOPPE to ensure ease of access for wheelchair users.
From its dedicated site based at the Guernsey College of Further Education, Grow provides occupational training and mentoring in areas such as hospitality and gardening to empower service users to fulfil their potential.
In the lead up to its 40th anniversary in 2024, the Les Petits Quartiers site underwent a complete redevelopment. Planning permission was granted in December 2020, triggering a highly successful fundraising campaign. By August 2022, more than £3 million had been raised.
The project, which cost more than £4 million in total, involved the creation of a two-storey centre containing dedicated facilities for wellness, arts and crafts, and carpentry, plus a shop selling products made on site.
Grow has introduced a hospitality training programme for its crew to use the produce grown on site, as well as other areas, to enhance their experience and gain qualifications. The centre also contains a new community hub, providing office accommodation at affordable rents as well as room hire for charity partners and members of the public.
Photo Credit Guernsey Press
Sustainable and accessible design
The timber frame building was designed by Paul Vaudin & Associates – a multi-disciplinary architectural and surveying services company based in Bailiwick, Guernsey. As such, all decisions regarding the design elements were discussed collaboratively and made jointly between the two parties.
It was decided the place should be light and airy while being as functional and sustainable as possible. For example, the ethical glass houses are recycled from two different sites.
Given that the building, which will be used by people aged 11 and above, is multi-purpose use on one side and sensory on the other, accessibility requirements had to be considered in the design stages. All areas are wheelchair friendly and there are secure, high-quality fire doors.
The timber doors throughout were complemented by hardware from HOPPE (UK), which included door closers and hinges.
Collaborative working
Working closely with Guernsey-based timber and builder’s merchant Norman Piette, HOPPE (UK) business development manager Donna Davison wrote the ironmongery schedule, detailing exactly the pieces of door furniture needed at each instance. She liaised with the architects, who specified stainless steel throughout the building to perfectly match hardware to design across the Grow facility.
The ARRONE curved return-to-door (RTD) lever AR961/60 was specified – a popular choice for public buildings and healthcare environments for compliance with The Equality Act 2010 – along with the AR8182 ball bearing radius hinge, both in stainless steel. The hinges met all the criteria for door sizes and weights and were machined off site.
She selected the versatile AR1500 overheard fire door closer in aluminum throughout, and the AR6409 cam-action overhead door closing device in silver enamel for corridor doors. Both products from ARRONE are designed for use with timber doors and fit a maximum door width of up to 1100mm. Each offers a power size from 2 to 4 which can be adjusted by spring tension, meaning the door can close firmly in the latch but has low resistance, making it easier to open for those who are less physically able, including wheelchair users.
All of the products specified have been fire tested to BS EN 1634 Part 1 for use on 30, 60 and 120 minutes timber fire doors.