East Lothian’s newest secondary school, situated within the £47.2m Wallyford Learning Campus, prioritises space flexibility with the installation of a Dorma Huppe Variflex ComfortDrive moveable wall, allowing the main drama and assembly hall to be quickly and easily divided into two separate areas, whenever required.
Partitioning experts, Style, worked with JM Architects and Morrison Construction to deliver adaptable space to this heavily used facility.
“This is a large space with a high ceiling,” said Angela McGowan, sales director for Style Scotland. “As a result, the panels are 4.6 metres tall which is why the fully automated operation is an advantage, as it would be more difficult to manoeuvre such large panels by hand.”
The secondary school incorporates modern teaching and social spaces for 1,000+ pupils. There is also specialist provision for secondary age young people with severe and complex needs; a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) centre; and a Tots and Teens area.
The Wallyford Learning Campus also provides access to sport, health and wellbeing facilities, outdoor learning, employability and training opportunities, for both adults and young people.
Maximising the use of the hall, the Variflex moveable wall glides into place at the push of a button, dividing the room into two and forming an impressive acoustic separation due to its 57dB acoustic rating. This means a noisy class on one side will not disturb more quiet teaching on the other.
“The moveable wall opens up the options as to how the hall is utilised,” said McGowan. “It also means savings on heating and lighting costs can be achieved by closing off half the hall whenever it is not required.”
The Variflex moveable wall has a chic, black laminate finish. Extending the wall’s lifespan, each panel can be replaced individually if it becomes damaged or scuffed. This is a great advantage in busy public places, such as school and colleges, particularly where children may be undertaking drama or sports classes.
Style also has a UK-wide service and repair team, with service contracts available to ensure ongoing smooth operation of almost any moveable wall system.
