Case Study: Ludlow Junior School, Hampshire Toilet Refurbishment

Open plan unisex washrooms have completely changed the way toilet facilities are delivered and managed in the school environment. From anti-bullying advantages to fostering stronger personal hygiene throughout your school, the benefits of this style of washroom are making a difference in schools all over the world.

Ludlow Junior School in Hampshire approached us to transform some washrooms into an expansive unisex toilet and hand wash area while sanctioning space for staff and a disabled washroom alongside. The works would see us open up a tired wash space in a historic building and maximise the impact of original features. 

The building had a lot of traditional archways that had been blocked up over the years to separate the rooms. We started by removing these to expose the large solid archways. Full height toilet cubicles were then installed, a strong move in anti-bullying but also to deliver increased privacy in a unisex wash space. The school went for a light wood grain effect on the solid grade laminate panels, which gave a warm, rich finish to the wash space. 

IPS Duct sets were employed in this washroom to create a small service void in which to conceal all the services. This included mains water, waste pipes and cisterns and worked to ensure Ludlow Junior School’s new washrooms were as easy to clean and efficient as possible. 

We also fitted non-concussive mixer taps, an option that only emits water for a set period of time once pushed. These taps also blended both hot and cold water to ensure the water flow was a safe temperature for users. Non-concussive taps are a strong option in school washrooms as they prevent taps from being accidentally left on, but also remove the need for users to touch the tap once they’ve washed their hands, reducing the spread of bacteria. 

In the staff washrooms, the disabled enclosure was constructed from solid grade laminate panels and fitted with a full Doc-M pack with a close coupled toilet, including blue grab rails that contrast against the wall colours. 

Floors were all covered in anti-slip vinyl safety flooring, while walls were fitted with white Altro Whiterock wall cladding, which boasts powerful hygiene and fire ratings. A new suspended ceiling was installed, housing low energy LED lighting, which was activated by infra-red sensors, making a strong move towards energy saving measures. 

As part of this washroom renovation, we also renewed the hot water system, and decorated the hallways outside of the washroom so that they blended seamlessly into the corridor. 

Completed on time and on budget, these works were carried out and completed in the summer holidays of 2021, ready for the new school year to begin.