Based in the heart of Leicester, Beauchamp City Sixth Form has recently opened its doors for its first term to welcome 350 A-Level students, following a dramatic renovation of a city center office block, formerly home to BT.
The new four-story college, opened by The Lionheart Academies Trust, presents classrooms, labs, and IT suites, as well as study spaces and a library which will give students “access to the latest academic research in their chosen areas of study”.
To ensure fire safety as part of the transformation process, main contractors worked with Avalon Technology Group, which specified Comelit’s innovative Atena fire panels to operate across the site.
Ensuring fire safety
Principal of the sixth form, James McKenna, said of Leicester’s newest post-16 provision, “Beauchamp City Sixth Form is an incredible new asset for both Leicestershire and the wider region. There is a long history of scientific and technological achievement born in the Midlands and this sixth form will help a diversity of learners take their ambitions as far as possible.”
“Of course, we needed to ensure we did this providing a safe environment for pupils to learn and staff to teach. Fire detection was essential right from the onset to accommodate the renovation work and ensure all facilities were safe. The teams worked together seamlessly to achieve our ambitions and we now have complete peace of mind across our fantastic building.”
User-friendly solution
Comelit’s Atena solution is a user-friendly touch screen addressable system
Comelit’s Atena solution is a user-friendly touch screen addressable system, with the capacity to extend to 4 loops, supporting up to 1000 devices, due to its dual-processor technology. In total, four panels have been networked at the college to manage the overall system requirements.
Finished in line with Comelit’s focus on aesthetics, its stylish design has the flexibility to expand with a facility or building requirement.
Fire-safety and security
Guy Stephens, Director Avalon Technology Group added, “This was a complex renovation to facilitate the integration of security and fire safety, whilst working with the main and electrical contractors to convert the empty office block into such an extensive education facility.”
“For fire safety, we required simply to install systems that wouldn’t compromise on the technology component and could also accommodate the sheer size of the scheme, which required a total of 13 loops. Comelit not only achieved this objective but also with a focus on design, suited the modern college environment.”
Fire Safe environment
Mandy Bowden, Comelit Fire BDM added, “Beauchamp City Sixth Form really does break down the boundaries of delivering a new and unique approach to sixth form education in Leicester City. Even the design of the facility, transforming an office block into a modern-day college environment is dynamic and commands the highest attention to specification detail, especially when it comes to fire safety.”
“Comelit Atena fire panels are specifically designed to enable an expansion of loop requirements to accommodate large facilities. With just four panels fitted across the building, we have been able to present compliant fire detection systems across all four floors, so staff and pupils can teach and learn in a safe environment. And there is still room for expansion to enable more to benefit from this ambitious new sixth form.”
