Design Checklists - School/Community performance spaces and drama studios

Things to consider:

• Use of facilities by community including extended schools, clubs, arts organisations/ theatre companies/ agencies and feeder primary schools.
• New curriculum developments and how this could affect the use of the spaces such as film making, movement and dance classes etc.
• How the facilities are located within the school and the adjacencies to other subjects and facilities (such as café, changing rooms, 'quiet' subjects etc.) to support accessibility and encourage community use.
• The importance of good acoustics and appropriate dimensions of the space should not be overlooked.
• If this facility is to be for multi-purpose use then it is important to focus on the primary activity/ies, listing out the secondary users and prioritising them. Whilst this will result in some activities fitting less well in the space, the primary activity will not become over compromised.

Technical Guidance