M/June 2023 • £8 also in this issue: CIF submissions Suppliers can help prepare your refurb submission for the DfE Library makeover A new library in five working days – this project shows, it can be done Ventilation Technical college extension gets both hybrid and natural ventilation also in this issue - hee magazine: Energy saving at its best: University enjoys the benefits of their investment in a heating control system Smart lighting: How to create an interoperable environment that delivers truly smart lighting Security for all, at all times: Solving the challenges of lone working via a new app Heriot-Watt plants deeper roots in Dubai Success in UAE leads the Edinburgh university to build a dazzling new campus
educationdab.co.uk 3 Schools repairs budget is going the wrong way OVER 1,000 school building improvement projects have just received the green light from the Government as a result of the latest Condition Improvement Funding grants scheme. Applications from 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided schools in every region of the country will receive a share of a £456 million pot created to help refurbish and repair school buildings. However, analysis by Schools Week shows that the funding is 25% less than last year’s £498 million, and there’s been a corresponding drop in the number of applications getting approval – from 1,405 last year to 1,033 in 2023-34. It means that 300 fewer schools have benefitted – down from 1,129 last year to this CIF round’s 859. The Schools Week analysis also shows that the average project cost rose from around £350,000 last year to £440,000 this, thanks to higher building costs in the construction sector. Of the 1,033 successful bids this year, just over half were primaries (56 per cent), roughly a third were secondaries (36 per cent) and five per cent special schools. Scanning through the schools receiving CIF grants (see the Excel spreadsheet on the DfE website) it’s clear that many of the projects are for urgent repairs and refurbishments but few seem to be of the serious structural nature identified at over 70 schools by recent news investigations. At the start of the year, the DfE admitted that there are many school buildings that are “very likely” to collapse because of problems with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) – a potentially dangerous, lightweight, building material that was predominantly used in roofs between the 1960s and the 1980s The true number may be higher, as we noted at the time. James Bowen of the National Union of Headteachers commented then: “The fact that we know [RAAC] is out there in schools, but the government doesn't know which schools, is absolutely a concern.” That concern has not been addressed in the latest CIF round. It is still unclear when it will be. • Page 8 of this issue looks at how schools can work with suppliers to increase their chances of receiving CIF grants. Heriot-Watt expands in Dubai The Edinburgh university’s new Dubai campus has been delivered through effective collaboration between design and client teams spanning two continents. Story pages 26-27. Editor Andrew Pring Sales director Julian Walter Production Nicola Cann Design Sandra Cid Managing director Toby Filby The publishers do not necessarily agree with views expressed by contributors and cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication. Publishers Stable Publishing Limited, SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH, England. t. 020 8288 1080 f. 020 8288 1099 e. [email protected] Andrew Pring Editor [email protected]
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educationdab.co.uk 5 educationdab.co.uk contents M/Jun 2023 7Working in collaboration with ISG, ARUP, and Austin Smith Lord, HLM Architects has developed a design concept for a new joint education campus in the Fairwater area of Cardiff, Wales. 10 Design Solutions GF Tomlinson has built a transformational new school building that enhances the learning and education of pupils in Lichfield. 12 CIF submissions It’s never too early to start thinking about a CIF submission – and suppliers can help. 15 Interiors New library in five working days at Idsall School in Shropshire, thanks to WF Education, which quickly reinvigorated the school’s library space. 18 Interiors Work has completed on a new transformational learning space for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children at East Hunsbury Primary School; plus, a £4.4 million expansion of Kingswood Academy in Hull is benefitting from flat-top rooflights. 20 Ventilation The £12.6m extension to Thomas Telford University Technical College (UTC) features both hybrid and natural ventilation.
6 educationdab.co.uk news WORK is progressing well at a significant refurbishment project at a school in Merthyr Tydfil which will pave the way for the future construction of educational facilities in Wales. Morgan Sindall Construction was appointed the contract for Pen Y Dre High SchooL by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council last summer, which once complete will be the first major school refurbishment project delivering net zero carbon in operation in Wales. The scheme is partially funded by the Welsh Government, as part of its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme which aims to invest in and improve educational facilities. The project is using CarboniCa, Morgan Sindall’s innovative digital carbon reduction tool that is enabling the contractor to support its customers decarbonise local communities CarboniCa is part of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach, bringing together digital and platform design capabilities with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create unique, sustainable, and inspiring places for customers. It measures whole life carbon emissions, ensuring potential carbon outputs can be managed and reduced during the design, construction and entire building lifecycle. The contractor is taking the existing frame and structure from the 50-yearold building and making it suitable for modern standards, working closely with civils and architects and employing the latest technology. The design has been tailored for maximum reduction in carbon with the help of CarboniCa and will use air source heat pumps and mechanical electrical equipment, meaning the building will run without the use of fossil fuels. It also incorporates the reuse of materials and Morgan Sindall Construction has been able to provide a new IT suite for the school. Pen Y Dre is one of the largest school refurbishments in Wales and will increase its capacity from 800 to 1,100 places for 11-to 16-year-olds. Plans also include a refurb of the existing swimming pool which is open to the public, enhancing the school’s existing legacy for fantastic sport facilities. Algeco on track with £19.2m Leeds Academy project ALGECO, the modular-build contractor, which last year won the contract to build the £19.2m Laurence Calvert Academy Middleton Complex in Leeds, is on course to complete in August this year. The Department for Education (DfE) project was procured by Algeco through the Mod-C Secondary School Framework, and work began on site at the start of June 2022. Algeco is acting as Principal Contractor to provide a full turnkey solution involving construction of a three-storey whole school block and associated external works. Laurence Calvert Academy Middleton Complex is a 1,050 place (7FE) new build Secondary school for pupils aged 11 – 16. It’s being delivered by Algeco using its steel frame modular solution. A total of 192 modules have been supplied along with a hybrid build for the sports hall areas. The works involve construction of the whole school block and associated external works. James Withey, Managing Director at Algeco Offsite Solutions, said: “We approach all our projects using Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), which means Laurence Calvert Academy gains all the benefits of product standardisation, safety, quality, delivery and building performance. DfMA also helps us deliver clear efficiencies to unlock many of the barriers in traditional construction centred around minimising the macro impacts of inflation, labour availability and waste reduction.” Algeco operates its own modular manufacturing facility in East Yorkshire, providing complete control of the whole process from start to finish. The company continues to invest in Building Information Modelling (BIM), DfMA and Lean Manufacturing techniques. This enables it to supply finished offsite buildings more efficiently, with greater levels of factory completion and of higher quality than that achieved in much traditional construction. Merthyr Tydfil school benefits from low-carbon refurb
educationdab.co.uk 7 news Pioneering design concept for new Cardiff education campus WORKING in collaboration with ISG, ARUP, and Austin Smith Lord, HLM Architects has developed a design concept for a new joint education campus in the Fairwater area of Cardiff, Wales. Capturing Cardiff Council’s vision, the Fairwater Campus will co-locate Cantonian High School, Woodlands Secondary Additional Learning Needs (ALN) School, and Riverbank Primary ALN School, all onto the existing Cantonian High School site in Fairwater. The development will form a fully inclusive state of the art campus for over 2,000 pupils and staff, which will also offer comprehensive facilities to the wider community outside of school hours. It will be the largest project delivered under the Cardiff Council and Welsh Governments Band B Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme to date in terms of scale and investment. Leading the way with its sustainability credentials, the project will significantly reduce its embodied carbon during the build stage and, once complete, it will be the city’s first school campus to be operationally net zero carbon. To achieve this, the campus has been designed to be rich in biodiversity and integrate renewable energy sources, to significantly improve energy efficiency. Gareth Woodfin, Cardiff Studio Director said: “Bringing together many pupils and staff onto one site presented challenges and complexities, but our team were able to carefully navigate these to create a design concept that has maximised educational opportunities whilst creating clear zoning for each school, maintaining flexibility and interconnectivity between all three buildings. “As emphasised in our commitment to a more sustainable built environment, we design every project to be as sustainable as possible and our work on Fairwater Campus highlights this promise, creating an environmentally conscious building that aligns with the climate action expectations of all stakeholders.” Subject to planning and procurement, work on the new campus is expected to begin later this year. Primary school adds 86 sqm of additional teaching space in eight weeks A SHROPSHIRE primary school has gained an additional 86 sqm of teaching space following construction by SJ Roberts of a new building that serves as an exemplar of cost and time-efficient construction in challenging school environments. Short Wood Primary School in Wellington, Telford had enjoyed continued growth leading to a lack of flexible spaces equally suitable for teaching, breakout sessions and planning away from the classroom. In a bid to address this, the school had repurposed the existing library but was conscious that this wasn’t a long-term solution, and more space was necessary. However, its existing architecture limited the options for an extension to the main building. Mike Sambrook, MD at SJ Roberts Construction, commented: “Short Wood Primary School holds Green Flag Eco status, meaning that any additional building needed to not only complement the local landscape, but prove its energy efficiency and deliver utmost value for money. “These are challenges faced by many schools and whilst the team at Short Wood had considered a variety of extension and modular options, once we reviewed their needs it became apparent that a traditional timber frame open panel system clad in timber with a flat roof would provide them with the best solution. The added benefit being that it fell under Permitted Development Rights, meaning no planning permission was required.” The 86 sqm building was delivered in just eight weeks from site preparation to completion, and the use of heavy machinery was limited to school holidays meaning the site could remain operational throughout the build. As well as its speed of construction, the new school building boasts a “B” energy efficiency rating and is heated by a modern Air Source Heat Pump. Significantly for the education sector where budgets are under continual scrutiny, the entire build cost under £175,000.
8 educationdab.co.uk event preview The collaborative journey to net zero THE sustainable buildings & estates forum (sbef) returns this July to provide a networking opportunity for all those involved in delivering environmentally responsible and costeffective buildings across all sectors. The forum is a must-attend event for estates teams and suppliers across the higher education, healthcare, leisure, retail, commercial, and residential sectors. With sustainability impacting every aspect if the built environment – from the planning, design, and construction of new facilities to the operation, maintenance, and renovation of existing stock – this one-and-a-half day networking event will give product and service suppliers the opportunity to meet key decision-makers from across all sectors. Organised by education design & build (edb) magazine’s sister company, Stable Events, it will create a productive networking environment through which project and supplier delegates can focus on forging long-lasting business relationships through a series of prearranged meetings. And, by matching supplier and project delegate schedules in advance, both parties can maximise their time at the event, with a minimum of 15 meetings taking place with those in charge of commissioning for healthcare estates. The event also includes a gala dinner and three speaker sessions exploring the opportunities and challenges to delivering sustainable estates. Stable Events spokeswoman, Jo Makosinski, said: “Few markets in recent memory have attracted as much interest, investment, and innovation as sustainability. “Whatever sector you operate in; for estates teams sustainability touches every aspect of your work – after all, a sustainable built environment is an ambition that unites the entire supply chain, from designer and builder to supplier and client. “And, as collaboration between key stakeholders is at the heart of good sustainable practice, it for this reason Stable developed the forum; to connect and engage the supply chain to ensure the most-appropriate solutions for building projects are achieved.” This year the speaker sessions will explore the ‘collaborative journey to a net zero built environment’ and will be chaired by Joel Callow, director of Beyond Carbon Associates. Speakers will include Alex Green, schools programme manager at Ashton, who will be exploring the role educational estates can play in a net-zero carbon society; Mike Sewell, plan zero director at MITIE, who will be talking about the challenges of delivering effective decarbonisation; and David Spiteri, director of sustainability at Wallace Whittle, who will look at some of the lessons learned to date. Project delegates signed up to attend the event are collectively responsible for more than £3billion worth of planned building projects across the UK and further afield. They include Taylor Wimpey, Sovereign, Inspire Design & Development, Coreus Groups, Elevate, Noble Consulting, MAC Construction Consultants, and Bondstone. And they will be looking to speak to suppliers of products and services that can help to support the net-zero carbon and wider sustainability drive. For more information about this year’s event, or to register for your place, visit the website at sbe-forum.co.uk or email [email protected] What: The sustainable buildings & estates forum 2023 When: 6-7 July 2023 Where: The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield Web: www.sbe-forum.co.uk
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THIS new educational facility forms part of Staffordshire County Council’s wider plan to expand primary and nursery provision within the West Midlands. Due to local demand and following a new 750-home housing development within the area, the council identified a need for a new school to be built. The £4.8 million scheme was delivered by main contractor G F Tomlinson, through the Staffordshire County Council framework and project managed by Entrust. It was the first school to be built in Lichfield in over 40 years, providing 210 primary places and 26 nursery places for young people in the local area. Completed in June 2022, the new twostorey free school comprises nine classrooms, a library, catering spaces, indoor sports facilities and an outdoor play area. There is also a MUGA (multiuse games area) pitch on site to enable pupils to take part in sports activities. Construction of the school, which is run by the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust, was delivered with a future expansion in mind. This includes accommodating 420 primary and 52 nursery places in total, to facilitate planned housing schemes in the local area. This is one of six educational schemes that G F Tomlinson has successfully delivered within the Staffordshire region alongside Entrust, with the Derby-headquartered firm recently completing Bramshall Meadows First School in Uttoxeter. Construction methods applied to the new school included a Structural Framing System (SFS), a flat roof with a single ply membrane, external walls which were clad in brickwork and render with a large area of curtain walling. The installation of windows and rooflights create an expanse of natural light within the building. The striking blue and white stripe facade represents the flight path of the airfield, which was previously situated on the site many years ago. The building features acoustic panelling and tiles to the Sports Hall, a ceiling sprinkler system and toilets with vanity and Integrated Panel Systems (IPS) units. Externally hard and soft play areas have also been created. While on site, G F Tomlinson recycled 98% of its construction waste which was diverted from landfill, contributing positively to the local environment and the national carbon net-zero agenda. Opportunities were also provided for young people, including 130 hours of supporting young people into work, 94 hours of work experience and alongside this 115 apprentice weeks spent on site. A total of £483,404 social value added was achieved throughout the project. The result of the project is a transformational new school building that enhances the learning and education of pupils in Lichfield, providing them with much-needed school places and state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor facilities. G F Tomlinson encountered several key project challenges, within the location of the site, and effectively managed these obstacles and liaised closely with neighbouring properties and parties to avoid disruptions. Due to the location being situated within a residential environment, adjacent a house builder, who was already working in close proximity to the school, G F Tomlinson worked closely with the contractor to co-operatively achieve a collaborative approach. As part of this arrangement, regular meetings were held to manage the construction of the new school, alongside the partial completion of the 10 educationdab.co.uk design solutions FRADLEY Park Primary School in Lichfield, Staffordshire, celebrated its official opening with the local community in January this year after work completed in summer 2022 G F Tomlinson delivers new Lichfield primary school
educationdab.co.uk 11 design solutions housing development. The route for a new, incoming electrical supply was also redesigned in order to minimise the impact on new residents. Deliveries were carefully scheduled to avoid peak times for the residents and to arrive just in time at separate intervals to avoid congestion and disruption on the surrounding roads for the local community. G F Tomlinson also arranged for the sports field construction to take place early within the programme, to ensure it could be used by the school in time for the new academic year. Material supply delays continue to be a major challenge for the construction industry, and in order to avoid any potential issues, G F Tomlinson placed orders in advance and stored materials on site to mitigate delays. The firm also established and maintained close communication with its suppliers on a regular basis, which enabled an early warning of materials shortages and delays, and allowed G F Tomlinson to find alternative products if necessary. Kevin Dodds, Construction Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We were delighted to mark the official opening of Fradley Park Primary School, we worked collaboratively alongside Staffordshire County Council and Entrust, which has provided muchneeded school places for young children within the local area. “The brand-new facilities and state-ofthe-art classrooms have created enhanced environments for children to learn and grow, and it was great to see them explore their fantastic new school.” Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education Jonathan Price said: “I was really pleased to officially open Fradley Park Primary, which is the latest primary school in the county to be built in response to growing demand for school places in the area. It’s been great to see the first classes of children settling in well to their new school, which looks to be a fantastic place for them to start their education journey.” Mike Donoghue, CEO of John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, said: “Fradley Park Primary and Nursery School is a wonderful school, and a superb example of what can happen when a vision for a new community combines with a spirit of collaboration and the sheer hard graft of endeavour. “Working throughout the development of the school in a spirit of collaboration, I take this opportunity to thank all our partners for their contributions in making the school the amazing place it is. Staffordshire County Council, Entrust, the Department for Education, G F Tomlinson and a host of other organisations have been generous with their time and expertise, and flexible and accommodating in their approach. Deadlines were met, specifications achieved, and budgets adhered to. I thank them all.” www.gftomlinson.co.uk
12 educationdab.co.uk roofing How suppliers can help with CIF submissions Applications for the initial stage of the DfE’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) don’t begin until the new school term in September but Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager at PermaRoof UK, says it’s never too early to prepare for your submission and explains how suppliers can assist local authorities with the bidding process CIF funding improves the facilities of schools, academies and colleges – so applying for the capital grant is essential for the development, maintenance and safety of education establishments. The CIF provides financial support for a wide range of schemes, having funded 1,400 projects across England in the 2019-2020 academic year, but does tend to prioritise certain applications – namely roof, window and central heating replacements. Bidding for CIF funding opens at the beginning of the autumn term and is awarded in the spring – normally around April. But for any college or sixth form thinking they might be in need of flat roof repairs, the time is now to start preparing, and that’s where experienced commercial specification managers can provide vital support in securing the grant. The first step in any potential flat roofing project is to investigate the condition of the roof and conduct a survey to find improvements that are required to bring it back up to regulations – from checking thermal regulation and fall of water discharge, to structural soundness and whether there are enough outlets. A survey of this kind is essentially looking to pre-empt any problems before they occur and provide a solution to the roof’s current state. This means that, depending on the results of the survey, there might not be any action required. As a result of this, when finding a specification manager to carry out the survey, it’s important that you opt for someone who is able to offer no obligation, completely free of charge surveys, core testing and condition reports, which can then be used to support a CIF submission – if one is required. Once the next steps have been identified, getting a quote for the work that needs to be carried out can support your CIF application as it evidences exactly how the funding will be utilised. Choosing a full system from a reputable brand will usually mean the inclusion of a warranty – giving you further peace of mind. But do remember to check the guarantee you are being offered as some cheaper options may only offer a five-year warranty, whereas more reputable brands, such as Firestone, will deliver up to 20 years. Once the full roof survey has been completed, the report written and full quotes arranged, it’s time to collate the findings into a report to be submitted to the CIF. What’s worth bearing in mind is that every case is unique and has its own timeline – there is no one size fits all. Funding can either happen quickly or it can take up to two years. Usually, funding will be gained retrospectively after completion, however, depending on the severity of the project, there are occasions where it can be awarded while the project is ongoing or even beforehand. Whether contractors and suppliers are brought in to assist with a reactive issue (for example a leaky roof) or a proactive approach (such as a full roof overlay), ensuring you’re getting a comprehensive service that offers a guiding hand from initial consultation through to tender and final sign off means academies and sixth form colleges can focus on educating the next generation. www.permaroof.co.uk
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Retractable seating offers schools and universities more flexible use of their halls and significantly increases opportunities for lettings and generation of income. The benefits of installing a retractable seating system are numerous: schools are able to stage their own performing arts productions in a more professional way with the audience having a better view that sitting on chairs “on the flat”; retractable seating can transform a sports hall into a lecture theatre or more flexible teaching space, both for school/university use and as a hire facility. The potential to generate income by letting the space to outside organisations for arts, sports and other events is usually a lucrative prospect and schools and universities usually see a quick return on investment. Increasing numbers of clients who are fitting new flooring are opting to install retractable seating systems in their multi-purpose and activity halls. Therefore, the choice of flooring is very important so as to ensure that the surface will not be damaged and the floor is sufficiently loadbearing. Junckers floors have been proven over several decades to be very suitable for this type of use and we use our extensive experience to give the client valuable and well place advice on how to partner the floor system with their choice of retractable seating. There are thousands of square metres of Junckers solid hardwood flooring in daily use with retractable seating, in buildings ranging from community centres, schools and colleges, through to world-class sporting venues. Junckers offers a wide range of solid hardwood flooring, the majority of which may be used together with retractable seating. This versatility stems from the fact that there are a number of Junckers sub floor systems and installation methods to choose from, and so it is usually possible to find a great match between the hardwood flooring, the seating system, and what the client is looking for. With a Junckers flooring system, there is no need to worry that the “sprung” quality of the sports, dance or performance floor will be disabled by adding strengthening which makes the floor completely rigid under foot. Junckers has extensive technical expertise in this area and, although the sprung batten system may need to be strengthened, it is possible to do this and to leave the sprung quality of the floor unaffected. It is not unusual for under floor heating to be needed as well, and it is possible also to include this beneath the floor boards, again leaving the sprung quality of the floor intact. The surface of a Junckers sealed hardwood floor is very resistant to the type of wear and tear which may occur with retractable seating systems. Seating wheels will not mark or indent the Junckers floor. At Junckers we are able to assess the loads the seating unit will impose on the floor and from this we can offer a suitable design for the complete hardwood floor system - and we will guarantee the results. Tel: 01376 534 700 Email: [email protected] Instagram/Twitter: @junckersfloors Website: www. junckers.co.uk advertisement feature Which floor surface is best for retractable seating systems?
educationdab.co.uk 15 libraries New library in five working days IDSALL School in Shropshire approached WF Education recently as they wanted a complete reinvigoration of their library space, and they needed it done quickly. Describing their old library as ‘cluttered, ‘dingy’ and ‘outdated’, the school’s managers wanted a new modern style. They also felt like their space was not utilised to its full potential, despite it being a fantastic space with lots of potential. When surveyed, some students said they liked to visit the library, but a large percentage said they didn’t ever visit the library, stating it was because it was boring and unwelcoming. The idea was to change this perception. WF Education says its aim is always to improve wellbeing and learning outcomes. “Space is a powerful tool to foster engagement, inspire innovation, and drive outcomes” says the company. “Our ethos is to empower those with the responsibility for shaping physical spaces to design future flexible, fit-forpurpose environments that are engaging and inspiring. “We put people at the centre of our work and have developed our own range of modular, mobile, and flexible furniture to provide infinite combinations to fit into any space. The design for Idsall came from decades of problem-solving for librarians and educators.” Using the Everna™ library furniture range, WF Education designed a library that is exciting, comfortable, and welcoming to both students and staff. WF Education wanted to ensure this space met a variety of needs such as: independent study; reading for pleasure; playing board games; socialising; playing games on the internet; and group and collaborative study Students at Idsall range from 11-16, and the specialist contractor’s aim was that after the renovation, they visit the library more often and enjoy the resources it had to offer. Idsall needed this project completed before students returned from the holiday, so WF Education’s installation team completed the work in five working days. The school commented: “The old library was not a very welcoming environment, and we noticed the students weren’t using the library facilities as often as we’d like. The old library had been here for 20 years; it was old and crowded and not the best environment to study in. “The library has been transformed from old, dark and crowded to lovely and bright and open - it’s also wonderful to see the students using it every day.” As the students returned from the holidays they were stunned by the transformation. One commented, “I was honestly amazed, I knew they were making a new library, but I didn’t expect it to be this much better!” Along with the white and grey clad Everna™ shelving, WF Education added bright pops of green with stools to complement to bold paintwork. The spinners plinths matched the grey cladding, and we selected pale grey chairs and bright white collaborative tables in funky shapes to complete the contemporary aesthetic. Since the space reopened, the school has noticed an immediate increase in visitors. “Students are eager to come in and see the changes and tend to hang around more to study, use the computers, and read,” commented the school. www.wf-education.com/libraries
16 educationdab.co.uk lighting Lighting gets top marks at fossil-free Milton Keynes school MILTON Keynes has recently welcomed a new intake of students to its first-ever fossil-free school, the innovative newly built Glebe Farm School in the parish of Wavendon. The completely gas-free all-years facility also uses the latest LED luminaires to keep harvested energy use to the minimum, creating a modern, green learning environment in the heart of the community. Designed by Synergy Architects, it is an all-through school with 1,569 school places for pupils aged 5 to 16, a nursery and a workplace for 170 staff members and is located on an area larger than 13 football pitches at the heart of a new community. The school is the city's first fossil-free new build school - even its Bunsen burners are powered by green electricity, funded and developed by Milton Keynes City Council with building works carried out by Morgan Sindall Construction and Munro Building Services. The whole site has been designed to have a minimal environmental impact and will provide access to high-quality facilities for the local community. Completely gasfree, it uses air source heat pumps which absorb heat from the outside air and provide all the energy needed for air and hot water. All lighting comes from ultraefficient LED luminaires from TRILUX Lighting, whilst hundreds of solar panels generate power for the building. TRILUX luminaires are found throughout the building. The scheme focuses on the diverse needs of pupils, students, and teachers; and covers the complete spectrum of educational applications from the classrooms to the sports hall. The low-energy design uses a mix of Siella, Amatris, AgiraPlus, Arimo Fit, 74RS, Finea, Skeo Curv, Mirona Fit Sports, Oleveon Fit, ERP and Lutera C luminaires. TRILUX LED luminaires also score highly from an operational point of view, protecting education budgets and the environment with low power consumption and maintenance costs. Michael Guppy, Preconstruction Manager, Munro Building Services, commented: “We have been using Trilux products for over ten years now, the quality of the fittings is excellent. Using one manufacturer for projects like this allows the scheme to be workable throughout the project and assists the end user, as they only have to go to TRILUX for any additions or replacements. We find working with TRILUX helps us deliver an overall project solution.” It's been estimated that green energy could save this school up to £100,000 a year. Since completion, the school has become a national benchmark for future school buildings. www.trilux.com/gb/applications/education/e ducation-sectors www.synergyarchitects.co.uk www.morgansindall.com www.munrobuildingservices.co.uk
educationdab.co.uk 17 flooring Gold star for flooring project at Kingsmead Academy THE Kingsmead Academy in Taunton decided last year to construct a new main teaching block to replace the existing building, which had been standing for more than half a century – since the school first opened in 1953. The building was in a state of disrepair and needed replacing with a contemporary block better-suited to the demands of modern teaching. The school appointed main contractor Bouygues UK to build the £10 million three-storey teaching block with a one-storey main hall, and Bouygues turned to CW Jones Carpet & Flooring to install the floor coverings. CW Jones then contacted trusted supplier Bostik for its subfloor preparation products and flooring adhesives, as well as its expert technical support. Once the new building had been constructed, Bostik’s team of technical experts visited the site to inspect the subfloors and make their recommendations on how best to apply the floor coverings. When they tested for moisture, the team found that most of the subfloors were wet, exhibiting an average of 86% relative humidity (RH). This is well in excess of the 75% RH threshold that British Standards defines as a wet subfloor, and meant it would be necessary to apply a surface damp-proof membrane (DPM) before the floor coverings could be laid. Further inspection revealed that most areas of the concrete subfloors were rough-textured and pitted, and would therefore require pre-smoothing before the DPM was applied, since applying DPM to a rough subfloor compromises its effectiveness and can result in product wastage. On the other hand, some areas were soft and exhibited surface laitance. These would need to be removed to return the subfloor to a strong, sound base. Following Bostik’s recommendations, CW Jones pre-smoothed the rough areas of the subfloor to create a smoother surface on which to apply the DPM. This was done by applying GRIP A526 UNIVERSAL PRIMER – Bostik’s acrylic dispersion primer that offers excellent coverage rates and dries within one hour – followed by the company’s SL C540 FLOW smoothing compound. The high-flow, easytrowelling SL C540 FLOW has a moisturetolerant formula that makes it ideal for smoothing rough-textured subfloors prior to the application of the DPM. Once the smoothing compound had dried, CW Jones was able to apply Bostik HYTEC E570 ONE COAT, a two-part, solvent-free, epoxy surface DPM that contains the exact quantities of resin and hardener ready for mixing together. With the ability to provide protection up to a maximum hygrometer reading of 97%RH with a single coat, this successfully suppressed the excess moisture. After further applications of GRIP A526 UNIVERSAL PRIMER and SL C540 FLOW, it was then time to lay the vinyl and safety flooring. CW Jones did this using STIX A300 MULTI FLOOR, Bostik’s multi-functional acrylic adhesive that has a high initial tack combined with a long open time and exceptional handling characteristics. Aided by Bostik’s advice, the floor coverings were laid on time and to specification. This enabled the main contractor to hand over the building to a satisfied school, which is now using it to teach the majority of its lessons. “As always, it was great working with Bostik on this project,” comments Samuel Jones at CW Jones Carpet & Flooring. “Bostik completed a site survey and provided us with a specification to use the full Bostik system, from DPM to smoothing compound and adhesive. Throughout the project, Bostik helped us by carrying out moisture tests monitoring and updating the specification when needed.” www.bostik-profloor.co.uk
18 educationdab.co.uk interiors WORK has completed on a new transformational learning space for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children at East Hunsbury Primary School. The school has teamed up with Wellingborough-based Timotay Playscapes to plan three distinct areas for pupils aged four and five. The project has been designed to support “creativity, independence and innovation” from the moment children start at school. Features include a role play village, an outdoor learning zone (with “deluxe” mud kitchen), creative studio area, water play, climbing apparatus and a construction area complete with gravel pit, sand pit, trike and cycle area, as well as a ’show time’ performance stage and storytelling area. “Early years is one of the most important stages in a child’s life – they have to be learning and happy from day one – and, as a school, we have a clear vision on what is required to support that,” explained Headteacher Kathryn Pennington. “From our perspective EYFS children need to be learning from everything in their school environment, and this environment also facilitates how we teach. We are investing in teaching our inspirational and enabling curriculum and it is important that we have the facilities to support this.” The EYFS area, which was completed in December 2022, is the latest development in a long-term building and maintenance programme. Recently the school’s specialist unit, which teaches 50 children with profound and multiple learning difficulties, underwent a refurbishment which included a new sensory room and there are also plans to install a brand-new all-weather pitch and outdoor gym equipment. “As a flagship school for inclusion, we hope that the EYFS outdoor space will provide even more opportunities for every child in our school community to learn and grow together,” Kathryn revealed. Joe Panter, Operations Director at Timotay Playscapes, added: “At Timotay, we are passionate about transforming children’s lives through outdoor play, and we believe that every child has the right to play. The partnership has enabled us to develop an inclusive and learning-enriched environment for children to have fun, develop and learn.” www.timotaylandscapes.co.uk Transformational learning space for early years primary New toplighting for Kingswood Academy extension WORK is now complete on a £4.4 million expansion of Kingswood Academy in Hull, following an increase in demand for places. The new Russell Building comprises 12 new classrooms; two offices; a new dining area and servery, including indoor and outdoor seating; toilets; and plant rooms. Main contractor, Sewell Construction was tasked with delivering the extension – a three-storey stand-alone building at the rear of the existing school. Howells Patent Glazing was appointed by Sewell Construction to design, supply and install three flat-top rooflights for the new building. These sit amongst a sea of solar panels and to either side of two rooftop air conditioning units. The rooflights were specified to maximise natural light in the atrium. To achieve the highest possible light levels, Howells used its structural glass rafters to reinforce the structure. These provide support without breaking the sight lines. There are six 39mm glass rafters in total; two per rooflight, each made from Class 2 safety glass. Due to the design of the Howells flattop rooflight only the glass element with a black painted edge border can be seen from above or below. Out of sight, the aluminium structure is powder coated for durability. www.howellsglazing.co.uk
educationdab.co.uk 19 m&e Make learning a breeze with mechanical ventilation Providing a safe and comfortable atmosphere in educational buildings is critical to students’ ability to learn, explains Alan Macklin, Technical Director at Elta Group and Chairman of the Fan Manufacturer’s Association VENTILATION and good indoor air quality (IAQ) have always been absolutely crucial to get right in schools. It plays a significant role in student performance and comfort, and it is important that those tasked with delivering adequate air circulation are aware of why, and how, to optimise air quality. Evidence suggests that when levels of CO2 are higher, there is a noticeable drop in concentration. This has immediate consequences for occupants of a school, where students spend most of their time learning, developing, and expanding their field of knowledge. There are also long-term health issues associated with bad IAQ, including headaches, coughs, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin. There is also now a greater focus on increasing the supply of outdoor air as a way to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. There has been a historic tendency in school buildings to rely on natural ventilation by simply opening the windows, and this was a defining feature when schools reopened in 2020. However, in colder months and inner-city locations, this is not always a feasible solution. Cool air that flows from outside into the building can place a huge amount of strain on a school’s heating system as it works to maintain a comfortable temperature, and therefore has a knockon effect on energy bills. It is also reliant upon the quality of the surrounding outdoor air, with very little control over the levels of pollutants coming into the building. This can be particularly problematic in urban locations, but equally there is no guarantee even in rural schools of the quality of outside air. Mechanical ventilation can help to avoid these issues by providing schools with much greater control over the temperature and quality of air flowing into classrooms, thus increasing the comfort and wellbeing of occupants without drastically increasing running costs. Mechanical systems that incorporate thermal energy recovery units, such as Elta Fans’ PREMA range, are able to recover heat from warm air inside the school, and use it to raise the temperature of incoming air. They can also be fitted with CO2 sensors, which detect changes in indoor air quality levels and automatically adjust fan speed accordingly. This level of control ensures that schools can increase the ventilation rate and benefit from high levels of IAQ and ambient temperature, without having to worry about the steep energy costs associated with always-on systems. To avoid disruption, schools will usually undertake building and refurbishment works outside of term-time. So any mechanical ventilation must be installed quickly and efficiently, in order to be ready in time for students returning. Elta Fans’ PREMA range of energy recovery units are among the lightest on the market, which makes them easier to install than many other mechanical ventilation models. With quick set-up times and intuitive controls for when they are up and running, mechanical ventilation units are a crucial asset for schools in the provision of clean air and thermal comfort. www.eltafans.com
20 educationdab.co.uk m&e Fusing a healthy environment for repurposed brewery THE £12.6m extension to Thomas Telford University Technical College (UTC) is using the latest technology to deliver “a gold standard in education”, through to its ventilation. Designed by Associated Architects and delivered by Morgan Sindall, the facility forms part of what is Europe’s largest construction education campus, on a former brewery site. The three-storey, 4,500 sqm teaching building features Gilberts’ ventilation throughout, fusing both hybrid and natural ventilation into a cohesive strategy. As a result, 81no WHZ38 glazed louvres have been integrated into the aluminium façade (engineered by Elite Aluminium Systems) to provide natural airflow in and out of the common zones of the internal spaces. These are complemented by a further 73no MFS128 hybrid units strategically located at high level throughout the teaching zones (installed by Dodd Group (Midlands). The factory-built high performance WHZ38 louvres are purpose-designed for inclusion into glazing systems, delivering Class A weather protection with 40% free ventilation area. The Department of Education’s school ventilation guidelines (BB101) recommends the use of natural and/or hybrid ventilation within its buildings and the optimum method to balance and control temperature and air quality (CO2). Gilberts pioneered hybrid ventilation; its stand-alone MFS Fusion was the first system of its type. MFS Fusion centres around stand-alone natural ventilation for each space/zone, complimented by an as/when needed mechanical boost, via a low energy fan. The system works by mixing the incoming fresh air with the warmer internal exhaust air to maintain compliant IAQ in each stand-alone space. The fresh air is drawn in through the façade at high level, and exhausted through the same route, once natural air movement principles have circulated the air throughout the space. Being at high level, and the fresh air tempered as it is drawn into the interior space, there are no cold spots or draughts, optimising occupant comfort. Each MFS128 unit will efficiently and cost-effectively ventilate a typical 30 person classroom, costing as little as £5pa to operate(subject to energy prices). Associated Architects’ Asssociate Natalie Richardson explains: “The Department for Education guidelines suggest hybrid ventilation. The M&E consultants CPW proposed the combination of Gilberts’ façade louvres and MFS Fusion hybrid ventilation, as delivering a quality solution. We were happy to accept that advice.” www.gilbertsblackpool.com Bexhill College gets a SMART Upgrade BEXHILL College recently underwent a classroom transformation, with new SMART boards in every teaching space on campus. Having worked together previously, Strive AV was appointed by the college to specify, source, and install equipment for this large-scale upgrade before students returned for a new term in September. The client brief was straightforward, but the timelines were tight with just two months to deliver the project. Mike Dunne, eLearning and ILT co-ordinator at Bexhill College explains: “We had been dealing with 5- to 10-year-old projectors, the image clarity was poor, and the reliance on lamps meant they had limited life cycles, and constantly needed upkeep. All these factors were not conducive to providing a bright bold learning environment, which is central to the college ethos.” The college required a consistent presentation eco-system that staff could easily use, no matter which classroom they were teaching in. The solution included the installation of fifty-two 75” SMART Board MX Series interactive displays. Four of these were installed with mobile trolleys, while the remainder were wallmounted in each classroom along with HDMI and USB cabling. Says Dunne: “The solution Strive AV provided met all our needs to support our students with the latest technology whilst also using brands that our teachers could easily adapt to. Being able to lease was also a real advantage; spreading the cost over five years meant the college could easily handle the investment.” www.striveav.com
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