Redland Parish Church Halls
A new parish hall building in Redland, Bristol 2012 - 2016
Our client said….
…the Barnabas Building is an important community facility which is being used for a wide range of community and church activities . All the reactions to the new building have been highly positive, as users enjoy the atmosphere of the new halls.
The Story
We were approached by Redland Parish in 2012. Having identified a need for additional and more flexible space, this thriving Parish had decided to run a limited mini-competition to choose an architect to design an extension to their existing hall. We were thrilled to be chosen.
The site presented some challenges. A portal-framed hall and adjacent flat-roofed extension dating from the 1960s (right side of photo below) together with a two-storey office/reception building completed in 1994 (left side of photo below), covered most of the site. The site was further constrained by a screen of trees and shrubs at the rear and a listed rubble stone wall to the front. The Parish wanted to retain the 1994 building and maintain its use throughout the construction process.
We embarked on a comprehensive briefing and feasibility study, collaborating closely with various Parish committees and groups. This process revealed a desire for a new building or extension that could accommodate approximately 280 people for worship and other functions, with the flexibility to be subdivided for various activities.
We explored numerous design options, presenting them to the wider community and gathering feedback through presentations and Q&A sessions. The project garnered significant interest, particularly as it was located on the edge of the Redland and Cotham Conservation Area. Local residents expressed concerns about potential noise, while the local amenity society was worried about the impact on Redland Green. We worked with our client to address these concerns, and made presentations to the wider community. Full planning permission was granted in 13 weeks.
The final design features three interconnected halls that can be combined into a single, expansive space by retracting partitions. There is a full stage sound and lighting system. The building also includes a fully equipped catering kitchen, a separate lounge area, and a garden and play area at the rear.
High-level windows bathe the interior in natural light without compromising visual or acoustic privacy. Extensive use of glulam timber creates a warm, contemporary atmosphere.
The building successfully achieves the sustainability and low energy criteria that were central to the client's brief. Its highly insulated timber frame, clad with brick and inert cladding panels, minimizes energy consumption. Intelligent controls optimize the heating and ventilation system, while PV panels on the roof pre-heat hot water for further energy efficiency. The consideration of acoustics from an early stage means that there are no noise issues with neighbours.
We provided full architectural duties at all stages with O'LearyGoss acting as Contract Administrator and Principal Designer under a traditional JCT contract. The construction contract was negotiated with Kitto Construction, based on a fully detailed construction package. Work started on site in August 2015 and was completed 13 months later.
The building was formally opened as “The Barnabas Building” by the Bishop on Sunday 30th October 2016. It is very well used and very popular with the local community. It was shortlisted for the RICS Community Benefit Award in 2017 and received a Bristol Diocesan Advisory Committee Award in 2019.
Project Team:
Client: Redland Parish Church
Consulting engineers: Structural Solutions
Cost consultant: Mildred Howells
Services consultant: Houghton Greenlees Associates
Main contractor: Kitto Construction