July_1971 — Page 23

JH

Secondary school has new space approach

A MAJORITY of secondary schools built according the Hong Kong Government's Schedule of Accom- modation include an assembly hall of some 4,600 sq. ft. and, because of space limitations, a popular approach is to raise the hall above a covered playground.

There are however drawbacks to this solution. In most cases the area of the hall is not sufficient to seat a nor- mal 920 pupils without a large balcony over the rear part of the hall. The covered playground, being deep, is usually poorly lit or ventilated and is invariably made less useful by the in- troduction of intermediate columns.

Far East BUILDER, July 1971 Page 23

THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION LEIGH and ORANGE SAMN LIM

ASIAN CONSTRUCTION CO.

Additionally, while the playspace is at ground level so too are classrooms in the school block - not a very satis factory arrangement.

For the new Tak Oi Secondary School at Tse Wan Shan, the architects produced an alternative solution to these problems by incorporating the covered playgrounds in the school block and spacing the columns in such a way as to afford useful areas.

It was then possible to consider

owners

architects architect-in-charge main contractor

planning the assembly hall at ground level although, because of the slope of the site, it is in fact one storey above the street on which the block abuts. Though a small balcony is incor- porated, the main level of the hall is made sufficiently large to accommo- date all the pupils of the school. A 60 ft. clear span gives an uninterrupted view of the stage from all parts of the hall and allows ample room for all kinds of indoor activities.

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