Houlton School

ARCHITECT

van Heyningen and Haward Architects

ROLE

Catering Design Consultant

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Houlton School is a new 6 Form Entry secondary school and sixth form built within the historic setting of the former Rugby Radio Station. The project carefully integrates new teaching facilities with the restored Grade II listed transmission buildings, creating a landmark civic presence within the wider Houlton masterplan.

Cooper8 was appointed to develop the catering brief and deliver the full kitchen and servery design through RIBA Stages 2–4a, including preparation of tender documentation for the catering package.

CATERING STRATEGY AND DESIGN

The catering facilities were designed to support a high-performing in-house catering operation serving approximately 1,200 pupils, with additional provision for community events and sixth form dining.

Key design priorities included:

• A high-capacity production kitchen

• Servery layouts optimised for peak lunch throughput

• Clear queuing and supervision sightlines

• Separate sixth form provision

• Flexible dining spaces capable of reconfiguration for exams and events

The school aspired to operate a single lunch sitting -exceeding typical BB103 assumptions- requiring detailed flow modelling and careful coordination of service routes and staffing assumptions.

HERITAGE AND TECHNICAL CO-ORDINATION

Integrating modern catering infrastructure within a listed building required sensitive routing of ventilation systems, services and plant. Extract strategies and service areas were carefully coordinated to respect the historic fabric while meeting current energy performance and regulatory standards.

Cooper8 worked closely with the architect and M&E consultants to ensure:

• Compliance with ESFA BB103 guidance and Output Specifications

• Coordinated service yard access for deliveries and refuse

• Energy-conscious equipment specification

• Integration with fire, acoustic and structural strategies

The project progressed via a two-stage tender process, with Cooper8 producing coordinated drawings, equipment schedules and tender documentation to support accurate pricing and contractor engagement.

LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE 

Equipment selection prioritised durability, lifecycle value and suitability for high-volume daily use. The catering design supports both everyday school operations and wider community use, reinforcing the school’s civic role within the Houlton development.

The completed scheme demonstrates Cooper8’s capability in delivering technically coordinated, operationally robust catering facilities within complex education and heritage environments.

Photo Credits: van Heyningen and Haward Architects / James Brittain