FOLKESTONE
ACADEMY

Sector
Education

Architect
Foster & Partners

Contractor
Wates Construction

Location
Kent

Product Information

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PROJECT. OBJECTIVES

Client Folkestone Academy

After the closure of its port, and with its dwindling population, the coastal town of Folkestone had effectively been in decline since the 1960s. Folkestone Academy was one of several art-led initiatives aimed at supporting the town’s regeneration.

Foster & Partners asked Planet to assist with preparing a put together a specification for all the internal glazing for this high-profile project.

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OUR
SOLUTION.

All the classrooms required full-height glass panels, oriented to minimise unwanted heat gain and solar glare. For the classrooms, PURE100 demountable double glazed partitioning ensures high acoustic attenuation.

Planet sourced and installed all the doors: timber-frame white doors that are easy to maintain and repair. At the academy’s heart is an atrium fire rated to 60/60 integrity and insulation, thanks to RPG Fire’s FireStop 25mm glass. These glass panels also feature in the library, which overlooks the atrium.

For walkways and gangways, PURE20 demountable glass partitioning features where acoustic performance isn’t critical – but it ensures a modern and contemporary space in line with Foster and Partners’ vision.

Work took approximately six months to complete.

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    • 01.

    PROJECT INSIGHTS.

    Folkestone Academy currently has an intake of around 1,600 pupils, aged from 11 to 19. The school has an academic focus on European culture, media and the arts.

    For Planet, this set the trend for installing commercial partitioning in an educational environment.

    Project
    highlights

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