building for education adf and student … · adf november 2016 hawkins\brown has completed the...

$: BUILDING FOR EDUCATION adf AND STUDENT … · adf november 2016 Hawkins\Brown has completed the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Elliott School, now renamed the Ark Putney Academy,$
BUILDING FOR EDUCATIONAND STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

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4 Industry news and comment

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Hi-tech meets heritageBond Bryan’s new hi-tech hub for The University of Nottingham is a basefor innovation with a nod to the past. Ray Philpott investigates

Theatre in the roundConnecting two different buildings, bringing together a school communityand linking new structures with the natural and historical setting were thechallenges at Wellington College. Jess Unwin finds out more

Creating a red-hot seat of learningThe Spark, Southampton Solent University’s striking new academic focalpoint, is firing up a lot of interest. Ray Philpott explains why

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Raising standards in playJulie Pearce of Sovereign Design Play Systems highlights the importance ofusing a specialist playground provider

Quiet please!Cellecta’s Richard Hillman offers some sound advice on achieving highacoustic performance in student accommodation

Clever with claddingPaul Richards of Aquarian Cladding Systems, explains how ever-increasingdemands from the education sector are fuelling fresh innovations in theconstruction industry

Breathing new life into schoolsNew standards for ventilation in schools are set to transform approachesto design and system choices, as James Hammick of Passivent explains

Washroom design for the well-educatedWith so many rules and regulations surrounding the practicalities of washroom design in educational settings, Daniel Ward of Twyford talks us through the dos and don’ts of sanitary specification for the school environment

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PROJECTS

FEATURES

CONTENTS

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4 NEWS

WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF NOVEMBER 2016

FROM THE EDITORTrends towards modular design and construction in state schools are an inherent feature of thegovernment’s Priority Schools Building Programme as the country strives to meet growing demand.

While the need to meet the highly individual needs of schools within this highly prescriptive,constrained framework is challenging for architects, they enjoy greater design freedom in the privateand higher education sectors.

These tend to be less fettered by political considerations and benefit from more diverse and flexiblefunding options. In this issue we feature three such projects, where architects have designed buildingsexuding character and flair, creatively meeting core functional requirements.

Southampton Solent University’s new hub building, The Spark, is striking in many ways, not least forthe huge, bright red pod that dominates the atrium at its heart and is serving as both a sculpturalstatement and a fully operating lecture theatre.

We look at the new auditorium and reception at Wellington College private school in Berkshire.Cleverly blending with its wooded surroundings and complementing an adjoining theatre building, itforms a superb meeting and performing space.

And sitting on a former factory site once belonging to a world-famous British brand, the aerofoil-clad Ingenuity Building on the University of Nottingham’s Innovation Park manages toproject the image of a vibrant new technology hub, yet subtly acknowledges a great industrial past.

Elsewhere inside, our commentators consider the value of teacher-led design and question why morezero-carbon, zero energy schools aren’t being constructed, and industry experts offer advice on thelatest developments on cladding, ventilation, exterior lighting, soundproofing, washrooms andplayground equipment.

We hope you enjoy the read.

Ray PhilpottEditor On the cover... © Studio Seilern

The Pod, a feature of the atrium at The Spark atSouthampton Solent University designed by ScottBrownriggGo to page 27

BUILDING FOR EDUCATIONAND STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

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5NEWS

WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UKADF NOVEMBER 2016

Carl Turner Architects has received the go-ahead to deliver the Mountview Academyof Theatre Arts in Peckham, London.The scheme, the practice’s first cultural

project, will be built on a brownfield siteadjacent to the Stirling Prize-winningPeckham Library.The 10,180 m2 campus will consist of

two blocks –a brick-clad saw-tooth teach-ing block and a Corten-clad theatre block.There will be a public rooftop dining areaand a cafe and commercial space on theground floor as well as an events platformat the entrance. The school will overlookPeckham Square, to be redeveloped by thesame practice.Carl Turner said: “It’s a delight to be

working on our first cultural project,having diversified over the past few yearsas a practice to now be able to deliver sub-stantial regenerative architecture.”Peckham Library architect Will Alsop

added: “Although initially I was scepticalabout the project, on more careful study I realised that the provision of a dance facility adjacent to the library is a very positive new addition to Peckham, and I see in the future that there could be greatsynergy between the two facilities.”Internally, a central atrium within the

teaching block rises four storeys, bringingnatural daylight deep into the plan. Themain 200-seat auditorium will be lettableand serve primarily as a teaching theatre. The rooftop bar and restaurant will beaccessible to the public via a separate staircase, enabling the space to functionout of hours.The academy is the latest in a series of

community regenerative projects in southLondon by Carl Turner Architects, follow-ing their design of Peckham Levels – nearly4,000 m2 of artist space in an underusedcarpark – as well as Pop Brixton, a ‘mini

city’ made up of shipping containers andrecycled materials that has provided afford-able work and leisure space. Mountview Academy is due to complete

in September 2018.

Carl Turner Architects to design new Peckham theatre arts school

CULTURAL PROJECTS

6 news

www.architectsdatafile.co.uk adf november 2016

Hawkins\Brown has completed the refurbishment of the Grade II listed ElliottSchool, now renamed the Ark PutneyAcademy, in Wandsworth.

Hawkins\Brown was appointed byLendlease to redevelop the school into anew academy which would meet therequirements of 21st century teaching in alisted building.

The works included the restoration of thefacade, remodelling the teaching facilitiesand building a new community sports hall.The internal layout has been remodelled tomodern teaching standards and to improveaccessibility and people flow.

John Jeffery, architect at Hawkins\Brown,said: “The challenge was to collaboratewith Wandsworth Ark Schools andLendlease to develop a solution which balanced the desire to retain as much of theoriginal while ensuring the reimaginedbuilding met the teaching needs of the 21st

century.

“The result reflects the aspiration to createa new identity while retaining the uniquecharacter of the original.”

The original school was designed by G.A. Trevett of London County Council andwas opened in 1956. Inspired byScandinavian welfare state design, thecampus provided a modern comprehensivefacility for the post-war era. The buildingfeatures three main terrazzo circulationstairs, with hardwood balustrades andspiral stairs to the concrete roof pavilion.The assembly hall has a distinctive caravanform with generous roof lights.

Hawkins\Brown designed a newenvironmentally responsive facade to thebuilding, updating the colour palette witha pattern generated using shades from theoriginal colour panels and features of thebuilding.

The internal layout has been transformedto accommodate 1,050 pupils and nowincludes a ground floor dining area and a

new art department relocated to therooftop ‘waveform’ pavilion with largeareas of glazing that provide attractiveviews of London.

Alison Downey, principal at Ark PutneyAcademy, said: “I firmly believe that thework of Hawkins\Brown has allowed us tobuild on the legacy of the school andprovide students of varying backgroundsand abilities an opportunity to study in anamazing building once again.”

Hawkins\Brown completesArk Putney Academy

the result reflects theaspiration to create a new identity while retaining the unique characterof the originalJohn Jeffery, architect at Hawkins\Brown

refurbishment

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8 news

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Penoyre & Prasad have been granted permission to extend and refurbish theGrade II listed Oddfellows Hall inManchester.The building form part of the Mecanoo-

designed Manchester Engineering Campusdevelopment (MECD) at the University ofManchester.The development, which has a target of

being completed by 2020 – will becomehome to the university’s four engineeringschools and two research institutes fromthe Faculty of Engineering and PhysicalSciences.The three-storey extension will be adja-

cent to the existing building and have abrick and glazed-patterned facade whichcorresponds to the whole university campus.Large-scale patterned panels on the facade

will feature a design inspired by architectural

features from the listed building. The mainentrance to Oddfellows Hall will be retainedand a new accessible one will be added to it.New circulation routes via the glazedenclosed light wells give visual and physicalconnection to the cafe, conference facilitiesand academic spaces.The architects said their project “will

transform the way in which the Universityeducates future engineers.” In addition to the designs for Oddfellows

Hall, Penoyre & Prasad’s collaborationwith Mecanoo includes Workplace Designand acting as the overall sustainabilityarchitects for the project.Gillian Horn, partner at Penoyre &

Prasad said: “This is an important mile-stone for a project that will effectivelycreate a new city quarter. She added: “We have transformed and

substantially extended the Grade II ListedOddfellows Hall to make it an integralpart of this urban campus and contributedto the creation of the highly sustainable,state-of-the-art research and teachingfacilities.” Demolition on the site is currently under-

way and main construction works arescheduled to begin later this year.

Barking & Dagenham BoroughCouncil has picked Surface to AirArchitects to design the GreatfieldsSchool in Barking.The £35m scheme will take a

prominent position in the wider Allies& Morrison-designed WeaversQuarter masterplan and include a700-pupil primary and a 1,800-pupilsecondary school. Roger Leighton, who is chief execu-

tive of Partnership Learning, a local

multi-academy trust, commented onthe demands the project will place onthe design team: “Greatfields Schoolwill have its challenges – particularlyits location at the heart of a dense,urban regeneration scheme – but weare confident that Surface to Air willdevelop a design that meets our educa-tional vision.” Surface to Air director Heidi

Moxon commented: “This facility willbe a key civic project for Barking &Dagenham.She continued: “Surface to Air’s

broad experience in designing educa-tional establishments has taught usthat space and environment play apivotal role in the way children learnand develop – so it’s very important toget right. With the needs of the localcommunity at the forefront of ourdesign process, our aim was to create acontemporary building that will allowpupils realise their full potential.” Once work is complete, Greatfields

School will open to students inSeptember 2019. It will become partof a successful group of PartnershipLearning schools in the borough,which also includes the Sydney Russelland Riverside schools.

Surface to Airappointed onBarking school

GreaTfields school projecT

Old and new to meet at revamped Oddfellows Hall

refurbishmenT

The scheme is part of theuniversity's plan for aworld-leading campus forthe engineering andscientific community

The school is at theheart of a dense urbanregeneration scheme

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The soaring demand for school places throughout the UK and the cut-backs in public expenditure have created adilemma for government policy makers – whether to

impose prescriptive design rules or allow teachers to have a say in how schools are laid out.

As architects, we firmly believe that in designing schools weshould work closely with teaching staff to understand their teaching methods and to create as near an ideal teaching environment as possible.

We have to take into account the scarcity of affordable land and the budgets that local education authorities are able to allocateto the provision of additional facilities, whether remodelling andexpanding existing or creating new build schools.

Teachers know what works and understand how to operate,which helps form the characteristics that make a school unique and enables successful education. A failure to have input fromteachers during a school redesign can risk eroding these benefits to the detriment of both pupils and staff. However, this needs to be balanced against the Education Funding Agency’s need to have flexible space to deliver a range of teaching styles.

Standardised designsThe Education Funding Agency’s baseline design for schoolsguidance was introduced in 2014 to promote standardised designspecifications across a range of educational facilities and providingguidelines on how the schools can be delivered within restrictedcost and area allowances.

Although well intentioned, the guidance encourages rigid design,is unsuited to complicated school refurbishment projects, and oftenleaves little room to incorporate the individual school’s approachor teaching methods. The guidance focuses on cost, rather thaninvolving teachers in the design process.

But teacher-led design can improve efficiency because teachersoften understand the space usage better than the design consult-ants. For example, with the advent of multiple meal sittings,teachers can provide intelligence that helps designers to create more

Teachers know schools best and their input can be vital during a redesign. Pellingspartner Nicolas Maari argues for the benefits of encouraging teachers to have a say inthe design of UK schools

COMMENT

L-RGoat Lees Primary School, Willow Dene School

Knowledge is power

Teacher-led design can improveefficiency because teachers oftenunderstand the space usage better than the design consultants

11INSIGHTS


efficient dining spaces. Teachers are often imaginative and cancreatively plan the teaching day around the flexible use of spaceand effective pupil circulation.

While Building Bulletin 103 (BB103) had been praised for beinga significant improvement on its predecessor BB99, because itallowed the overall space allocation to be used more flexibly, therecent launch of the Schedule of Accommodation has to someextent reversed that by prescribing specific floor plate sizes to pupilnumbers. For example, for a two-form entry school the area shouldnot exceed a total of 2,072 m².

In some respects standardisation of design makes clear what canbe delivered within constrained budgets, but at the same time itallows little input from teaching staff who know best. This isparticularly concerning with the larger academies and free school

trusts where teacher input would be invaluable before they arerolled out nationally.

Positive approachWhere there has been a more positive approach to teacher inputhas been with the recently launched BB104 for special schools andspecial educational needs which has replaced BB102.

It gives various design ranges depending on the extent of theneed in terms of behaviour and health of the pupils. For this reasonthe Department of Education gives more flexibility for teacherinput into the design. Some schools may have more teaching areaswhile some will have more main hall, dining and ancillary spaces.

A further consideration in the years to come will be the maintenance during the building life-cycle of schools that have been designed in BIM and that will require input from schoolsmaintenance and facilities management teams.

At Pellings, we believe that while some aspects of standardisationare positive in driving efficiencies and sharing out constrainedbudgets the ‘default’ approach must surely focus on input from ateacher-led design body and a thorough investigation of curriculumneeds together with a creative approach to compromise.

Nicolas Maari BA(Hons) Dip (Arch) RIBA ARB has recently joinedPellings as a Partner, bringing with him over 10 years’ experience indelivering a wide range of expansion, refurbishment and new buildschools. Nicolas comes from Arcadis where he was the lead DesignManager for the Education Funding Agency Free school andPriority Building Schools Programme projects

Nicolas Maari

Teachers know what works...which helpsmake a school unique

12 INSIGHTS


A futuristic science classroom was designedby Year 11 students from Birmingham aspart of a nationwide competition.Four pupils at the King Edwards VI

Camp Hill School for Girls developed amixed-science lab combining the features ofa working classroom and laboratory in asingle space.The girls, who were awarded £20,000

worth of science lab furniture on top of theoption to realise their dream lab, inventedhorseshoe-shaped desks arranged so thateach student would face the teacher.Interior company Innova Design

Solutions, who sponsored the contest, trans-lated the designs into a flexible layout withdesks organised in a semi-circle, a practicallab in the middle and the teacher wall at thefront.The company also installed gas taps and

electric outlets towards the edge of eachbench. Sinks were located at the perimeter with deep work benches for prac-tical lessons.

Pupils create 'lab of the future'EDUCATION

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14 NEWS

WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK

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There’s no doubt the way we design and construct buildingsconsumes huge amounts of the world’s energy and generatespotentially catastrophic global greenhouse emissions.

It seems only fair that we roll up our sleeves to sort it out – andnew schools, colleges and universities, all those special places thatteach and inspire millions of students every day, are a great place to start.

In fact, it’s relatively simple to design net-zero energy and net-zero carbon educational buildings, but only customers with deeppockets and a sense of environmental stewardship are happy to paythe price premium this involves. Likewise, only a fool wastes timedesigning and building products nobody wants to buy.

So the destructive cycle is perpetuated by design. The marketwon’t pay for net zero solutions so people continue to churn outbuildings that promise a lifetime of carbon emissions, locked infrom day one – by design.

The solution to the problem is to eradicate the price premiumassociated with net zero energy and net zero carbon school build-ings. Once we reach that point, the market will queue up to buythem and the damage can slowly be reversed.

But the industry is not structured in a way that is conducive toachieving this outcome.

The traditional approach to construction with traditional materials assembled on site invites programme delays, cost uncertainty and waste. So it’s pretty clear the problem won’t befixed by going down that road. The traditional approach to designnecessarily involves collaboration between contractors, architects,M&E and structural engineers, but the collaboration is not as deep,integrated and aligned as it needs to be to deliver what is required.

The process is often inefficient and dysfunctional; a lot of time is wasted justifying design decisions and solving the problems they beget.

Moreover, there is plenty of opportunity for conflict especiallywhen it comes to cost control. Fixed consultancy fees deliver inflexible solutions and time-based fees promote lengthy debate.There is usually a seat at the table for a carbon/energy consultant,but their input is relegated to the periphery rather than the heart ofthe project.

We’re not going to eradicate the price premium unless we changethe way we design as well as the way we build.

SolutionThe answer lies at the crossroads of off-site construction and in-house design.

Assembling an integrated team, with energy, carbon and value atits core sets the tone and direction of travel. Employing this team infull-time permanent posts ensures alignment and removes anypotential for commercial and professional tension.

Committing to an off-site construction methodology informsdesign by narrowing the palette of construction materials down tothose that can be moved in large format safely and economically.

Building off-site delivers meaningful cost savings when comparedto other methods of construction. The savings can then be spent on the integration of renewable energy technology with sufficient capacity to ensure net zero energy and net zero carbon performance.

At UK Energy Partners, we have been employing this approachin designing energy efficiency upgrades since 2014. We have beencontinuously refining our designs and construction techniques andit’s exciting to be able to report that it is working.

By the end of 2016, we will have delivered 50 ‘Schoolhaus’school projects all with an EPC rating of A+. These buildings costno more than traditionally built alternatives but the difference isthat they cost nothing to heat and light and emit no CO2.

We have the power to make big changes.

Neil Smith is chief operating officer of UK Energy Partners

Creating educational buildings with zero energy usage and carbon footprints isperfectly possible. So why aren’t we building more? Neil Smith of design firm UKEnergy Partners shares his thoughts

COMMENT

A lesson to learn

There is usually a seat at the table for acarbon/energy consultant, but their inputis relegated to the periphery rather thanthe heart of the project

15INSIGHTS


www.fordingbridge.co.uk

BUILDINGPROJECTS

The University of Nottingham’s brandnew Ingenuity Centre is one of thoserare buildings that looks cutting

edge yet captures a sense of heritage.At first glance the centre appears to be a

hi-tech structure that would not look out ofplace in a sci-fi movie, with a complexarray of metal fins forming a metallicbronze-coloured circular envelope thatseems to float around a central core.Keep looking though and some of

the design cues are clearly industrial – the metallic external envelope echoing the form of some finely machined, mechanicalcomponent or even the patterned tread of a tyre.It is located on The University of

Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP), formerly the site of Nottingham’s famousRaleigh bicycle factory that also manufactured ammunition and armamentsduring World War II and is now home to anarray of innovative modern buildings.The new centre will be home to start-up

enterprises and entrepreneurs creating businesses based on cutting edge technologyand research – including big data anddigital, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and energy – and liaising withuniversity research departments and post-graduate students. It was part-funded by the Department for

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategyunder its pilot University Enterprise Zonescheme, with matched funding from TheUniversity of Nottingham and the HaydnGreen Charitable Trust.Bearing in mind both the function of the

building and the site’s significant culturalhistory, a combination of ‘hi-tech and heritage’ was part of the design philosophyfrom the outset for architects Bond Bryan.

Associate director Matt Hutton explains:“The Innovation Park is one of just fourUniversity Enterprise Zones in the UK withthe original masterplanning done byHopkins Architects and Make Architects.When we started design in 2014, the parkalready contained lots of bold architectureset in attractive landscaping with a riverrunning through it.“We’re lucky to be designing a building

for such a fantastic location, but thatclearly meant we needed to create a building that equally made a visual state-ment. Something box-shaped andconventional looking was simply not goingto cut the mustard," he adds.

“As well as wanting to create an iconicstructure, it was also important that itreflected the historical significance of thesite. By coincidence, I have some personalinsight regarding this aspect, as my grandmother worked in the old factorymaking aircraft bombs during the war.”

Collaboration at heartA core element of the university’s brief forthe £5.2m project was for the design toencourage and support innovative and col-laborative working and learning.In order to establish how that could

work best, the practice embarked on anlengthy period of extensive consultation

Bond Bryan’s new hi-tech hub for a leading university is a forward-looking base forinnovation which also gives a nod to the site’s industrial past. Ray Philpott investigates

Hi-tech meets heritage

NOTTINGHAM INGENUITY CENTREUNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

17INGENUITY CENTRE, NOTTINGHAM


and discussion with end-users and the uni-versity.

Hutton says: “This site is about bringingpeople together and our whole approach isabout collaboration. We saw the IngenuityCentre as a hub, a multi-faceted, multi-entrance circular building that woulddraw people in.

“It’s a standalone structure, with noobvious ‘natural’ entrance areas and a circular design worked because it needed tolook striking from all angles, working like apebble dropped in a pond, creating rings ofinterest around it.

“This relatively deep-plan, steel-framedbuilding form maximises the limited available site area to limit the overall heightneeded and create efficient floor plates.”

He describes the core elements of thethree-storey building as an “easily constructed” cylindrical, glazed core with awell-lit atrium space at its heart, completedby an exoskeleton of creatively positioned,anodised aluminium blade cladding.

“There’s no doubt that it’s the exteriorcladding that really defines this building,”says Hutton.

It’s constructed from 350 mm wide x 50mm deep, angled, aerofoil-shaped anodisedaluminium fins, bolted between black concentric steel rings. This structuremounted on vertical, curved ‘hockey blade’frames attached to the central cylinder.Each individual aerofoil blade is manufactured off-site but has to be cut to exact size by hand on site beforeinstallation.

The curtain wall of the central core isglass and a black aluminium cassettecladding, while the support structurebehind the blade cladding is also black.

“We chose to use dark colours to makethe central core appear to recede so thebronze blades stand out more – and at nightyou just read the light coming out of thewindows and reflecting from the blades,”Hutton points out.

Extensive modelling was carried out bythe architects using Building InformationModelling (BIM) to ensure the blade designwas neither obstructive nor oppressive when viewed from the inside and did not impede sufficient light fromentering the building at different times of year.

“The blades have been carefully positioned so the thin edge faces inside,minimising their profile from an occupant’sperspective,“ adds Hutton.

A double-height, ground floor mainentrance is approached via existing

pedestrian pathways on the park and,further round, there’s a breakout area witha wider, two-storey glazed frontage com-plete with outdoor seating area.

The internal collaborative spaces over-look attractive landscaping designed anddelivered by the university's own landscap-ing team, a lake and a pedestrian bridgeover the water.

A reception and some small administra-tive office spaces compete the layout on theground floor.

FlexibilityInternally, the emphasis is firmly on flexibil-ity as Bond Bryan’s project architect,associate John Hope, explains. “We usedlightweight partitions for flexibility, withfloor plates of cast in-situ concrete floordecks.”

The mechanical engineering has beendesigned so that, whether there’s a start-upor an international business in there, thepartitions for the spaces inside can be easily

18 INGENUITY CENTRE, NOTTINGHAM


reconfigured to make smaller, cellular spaceand larger open spaces.Office accommodation is mixed specifica-

tion, running over two floors. Some face theinterior, benefiting from shared light fromthe roof and entrances and, separated fromthese by a shared corridor, the remainderhave views outwards.Hope adds: “The atrium has a hexa-

decagon aluminium-framed roof light whileits sides feature a series of glazed screenswith modesty blinds to give office occu-pants greater privacy. There are a mix ofcellular and open-plan spaces at the firstand second floors of the building and at theground floor level there are more open,shared areas for social and public engage-ment including the atrium, seminar spacesand collaborative hub space. “Overall it feels like a very modern,

‘clean’ office space. As you walk in the inte-rior immediately opens out to the externalview through the breakout space. There areherons and lots of other fabulous wildlife tobe seen out there.” He continues: “The businesses based here

are from a variety of industries, but are alltechnology driven and cutting edge. We feltthat while they obviously require their ownspaces, it is important to provide breakoutareas where people from different organisa-tions could mingle and share ideas over acoffee and in a relaxed environment.”

Distinctive and excitingWhile it has been necessary to use mechanical ventilation and heatingthroughout, the building’s carbon signatureand energy usage has been reduced throughuse of low-E glass – with higher specifica-tion glazing in the atrium area – LEDlighting and 25 m2 of photovoltaic panelson the roof. The centre is also connected to receive

heat and power from its large zero carbon-zero energy neighbour, theGlaxoSmithKline Carbon NeutralLaboratory for Sustainable Chemistry,enabling the Ingenuity Centre to achieveBREEAM Excellent status.Construction has been something of a

challenge, with Bond Bryan sitting on theclient side of the project; the main contrac-tor Robert Woodhead employed CoreArchitects of Lincoln to implement the jobon the ground.“It’s a slightly different role to building

out the project ourselves, as we’re used to,because you are remotely managing thedesign process,” says Matt Hutton. “But wedeveloped a good relationship with both

Robert Woodhead and Core.“Construction has been something of

a challenge. The site is a tight one and there was lot of soil to shift, so it’s been abit of a jigsaw and things have had to movearound fairly constantly. Fitting the bladeshas also been one of the more demandingaspects of construction in terms of time and complexity.” Matt Hutton, associate director at Bond Bryan

We needed to create abuilding that made a visualstatement. Something box-shaped was simply notgoing to cut the mustard

19INGENUITY CENTRE, NOTTINGHAM


20 INGENUITY CENTRE, NOTTINGHAM


Construction and fit-out has recentlybeen completed and the building opened forbusiness in October with the first five newstart-up tenants and operations team fromUNIP Management having moved inalready.

Hutton concluded: “We sought to eco-nomically create a distinctive and excitingstructure that provides a high-quality state-ment building for the university. We’relooking forward to watching it develop anddeliver as a high-profile hub for innovation,technology and entrepreneurship.”

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: The University of NottinghamEnd User: The University of Nottingham Innovation ParkArchitect and lead design: Bond Bryan ArchitectsProject architects: Bond Bryan ArchitectsProject manager: Thornton & FirkinCivil, structural and M&E engineer:ARUPBREEAM assessor: Anderson GreenMain contractor: Robert Woodhead ConstructionSteelwork: Price & MyersAerofoil blades and other cladding:LouvreSolGlazing: SchucoInternal glazing partitions:PlanetPaving: Tobermore

FAST FACTS

Construction began: September 2015Completed and opened: October 2016Height: three-storeys/12 mBuilding footprint: 808 m2

Lettable space created: 1,600 m2

Number of aerofoil blades used: 1,218

21INGENUITY CENTREE, NOTTINGHAM


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Connectivity is an important part ofthe architectural ambition for thenew £15m performing arts centre at

Wellington College in Berkshire.A new auditorium with capacity for 1,400

people will not only provide the independentschool with a new theatre but also serve asan assembly hall for 1,000 plus students. The auditorium (pictured to the right of

the above image) must also connect visu-ally and physically with its existingneighbour, the Christopher Lee Theatre,which was named after the late actor, andwhich is to be refurbished into a smallertheatre and dance studio.Both structures, part of a plan to create an

Arts & Cultural Quarter at the college, will

feature an exterior finish that connects themto their immediate wooded surroundings onthe edge of Bracknell Forest. On what is a sloping site, clever design will

connect the different levels of the buildings – both inside and outside. Andfinally, the project must combine appropri-ately with the school’s nearby Grade I listedhistorical buildings.To put all this in context, the college stands

on a 160-hectare estate that includes sportsfields, a golf course, woodland and a Site ofSpecial Scientific Interest, containing speciesof mosses and liverworts uncommon or rarein southern Britain.Project architects Studio Seilern won the

commission after an invited competition.

Connecting two different buildings, bringing together a school community and linkingnew structures with the natural and historical setting were the challenges for a theatreproject at Wellington College. Jess Unwin finds out more

Theatre in the round

WELLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTREBERKSHIRE

BUILDINGPROJECTS

23WELLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, BERKSHIRE


Principal architect Christina Seilern says: “Wewere a late invitation, so had just 10 days butthat was surprisingly useful because it forcedus to focus us on what the issues were.”

Unlocking the project’s potentialStudio Seilern persuaded the college to gowith changes to the original brief thatwould, according to Seilern, ‘unlock’ thepotential of project and the area around it.At the heart of the rethink is a covered areathat connects the new auditorium and theold Christopher Lee Theatre.

Some might describe this space simply as afoyer for the two structures either side of it,but it’s much more than that, as Seilernexplains. “We wanted to give the collegesomething more than they asked for andcreate a highly flexible, multi-purpose socialand performing space, which we're callingthe Cultural Living Room.”

Partly inspired by her work at the CurveTheatre in Leicester, where the foyer is also aperformance space, the Cultural LivingRoom is a place where students will beencouraged to stage concerts, poetry readings and art exhibitions. It could alsoserve as an informal teaching area or the

green room to activities in the adjacent build-ings. Seilern adds: “There’s a lot of waitingtime when you do rehearsals. Students canrelax, do homework or use the coffee barthat will be located there as an alternativeplace to socialise.”

To aid these multipurpose uses, theCultural Living Room will feature retractableand tiered rows of benches plus a theatregrid, from which lighting and sound equip-ment will hang.

The Cultural Living Room’s two glasswalls play an important part in connectingthe project to the outside world. Seilernexplains: “It should feel like it’s part ofoutside even though it is fully enclosed. Theglazing allows views of the historical collegebuildings on one side and woodland on theother. We really wanted to reveal the beautyof the trees and the fact we're on the edge ofBracknell Forest.”

At peace with natureFor the auditorium itself, Studio Seilern chosea round design: “Without corners andconstantly recessing it should merge comfort-ably within the woodland and not compete

The Cultural Living Roomwas partly inspired bySeilern’s work at the CurveTheatre in Leicester

FAST FACT

Wellington College is named afterthe .rst Duke of Wellington and itspublic opening was 1859

24 WELLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, BERKSHIRE


with neighbouring historic buildings,” explains the architect. To furtherlessen the structure's impact, half of theground floor will be below ground level,taking advantage of the site’s natural slope.

Constructed using a steel and Metsecsystem framework, it will be clad withstained timber. Seilern adds: “The idea isthat the building feels like it has emergedout of the forest and timber cladding is theobvious choice.”

The dark-coloured stain will mimic the age of the nearby mature woodland – butwill importantly also help visually tie theauditorium to the Christopher Lee buildingas the latter will be covered with identicalcladding.

TransparencyBoth buildings are also united by StudioSeilern’s aim to improve movement betweenand within the two structures – and to bringthe project to life by making movement visible both inside and outside ofthe structures.

To this end, perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the auditorium's designincludes use of cantilever support to allow a

column-less perimeter. The result is claddingthat stops well short of ground level, allowing people to see in and out throughglazing. As Seilern says, “We created a recessstructure so that the building appears to begently hovering above the ground.”

She continues: “By lifting the cladding andhaving this ribbon of glass at the bottom youcan see people walking around outside and see activities andperformances inside.”

Explaining the way Studio Seilern's designshelp people move about the site, Seilernexplains: “We want the auditorium to feelalive and not be a big box sitting on the sitewith no activity around it. The thing abouttheatres is that it’s very much about negotiat-ing different levels: balcony level, stalls level,stage level, you've got stage in and out,you've got deliveries, road level and pedes-trian-access level.”

The architect continues: “We’ve createdthis periphery circulation that works with thelandscaping and the site levels and thatbrings you from the Cultural Living Roomup to the balconies and up to the entrancearea. The gentle sloping we’ve incorporated isa way to negotiate the levels without having

FAST FACT

John Shaw Jr – who had also previously worked as an architectfor Eton College – designed the college's .rst buildings

We wanted to create a highly flexible, multi-purpose social and performing spaceChristina Seilern

25WELLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, BERKSHIRE


any steep stairs or aggressive slopes. “With our plan the circulation becomes

much easier, but also opens up everything sothat you see people circulating in and out and up the building and around thebuilding and that is very important to our design.”

Historically soundThe circulation was also a factor in how thenew performing arts centre will fit in with thecollege’s older architecture. Seilern reveals:“We walked the site with English Heritageand with the planners. It was important theheight of the new building shouldn't over-whelm the historical structures and the viewsbetween the two sets of buildings wereimportant too.

She adds: “Our perimeter ribbon of circu-lation is a promenade through the newauditorium that takes you around the build-ing but also focuses your eye towards thehistorical buildings. As you progress downand around it you then see the forest. Thecirculation within the building is very muchdesigned to work with the existing historicalsetting and buildings.”

Acoustic challengesOf course, a crucial factor for a successfulauditorium is acoustics. At WellingtonCollege, the building’s circular shape canaccommodate 950 seats but this could causeunwanted acoustic effects. To counter that,several methods have been adopted.

Some of the ceiling and the walls featureacoustic reflectors while the sectional

geometry and spacing of the plywood-cladding on the balcony and elsewhere hasbeen designed to spread acoustics evenlythrough the interior. A striking element of theinterior is a hanging acoustic reflector(plywood again) above the balcony that’s also been shaped to even out sound performance.

The auditorium must be adaptable fordifferent kinds of performance – from voiceto musical theatre and concerts – and this isachieved by changing the volume of the audi-torium through retracting certain curtainsand panels. Again, Seilern was able to drawon her experience at the Curve Theatre tohelp contribute to solutions for variable acoustics.

Mindful that the auditorium will not be inuse during school holidays, its design meansit can also be set up as a flat floor configura-tion. This entails the removal of seats in thestalls and allows for it to be rented out asfunction space.

Tribute to Christopher LeeIts next-door-neighbour, the 300 plus-seatChristopher Lee Theatre – named after thelate actor and Wellington College old boy –will be extensively refurbished as phase twoof the project. While the steel frame andprecast concrete cladding superstructure willbe retained, the existing interior will be demolished.

This will make way for a black box studio,dance studio, music rehearsal rooms andrecording studio facilities for musicians andWellington College’s student TV station.

The sustainability target for the projectis BREEAM Very Good. To help achievethis, photovoltaic panels will be installedon the auditorium roof – enough to poweritself as well as other buildings on thecollege campus. All materials will besourced to high environmental standards,while solar gain will be tackled by thepassive design of the auditorium envelopeand protective coating on glazing. Work onphase one (the auditorium) began inAugust and completes in 2017. Phase two(the theatre refurbishment) is due to becompleted in 2018.

Seilern concluded: “Because this is a schooland not a Broadway theatre we had to recon-cile all the different elements of design on atight budget. It was challenging on a bigbuilding to do that without compromisingthe brief but we believe we've found the wayto make it work.”

The Cultural Living Room is a space where stundents can both perform and stage exhibitions

PROJECT DETAILS

Project manager: Thornton FirkinTheatre consultant: CharcoalblueStructural engineer: Peter Brett AssociatesQuantity surveyor: Thornton FirkinLandscape architect: TLG Landscape DesignM&E consultant: HydrockAcoustic consultant:Bickerdike AllenLighting consultant: HydrockFire engineer: Buro Happold

All images © Studio Seilern

26 WELLINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, BERKSHIRE


BUILDINGPROJECTS

Since being awarded university status11 years ago, Southampton Solent isestablishing a growing reputation

across many academic disciplines, includingits industry-renowned maritime, media andsports courses.

In light of its growing stature, theUniversity realised it needed a new academic hub to really showcase its excellence in learning, teaching, research

and innovation and to project its spirit ofsuccess and ambition.

And it has achieved that in style with theSpark, its newly opened, striking flagshipbuilding on East Park Terrace Campus – an unmissable statement that also brings something unique to Southamptonand cements the University’s relationshipwith it.

At its heart is a bright red, 20 m-long,

curvaceous ‘Pod’ raised on slender angledcolumns in the centre of the building’s light-filled, five storey-high atrium.

Linked by glass-sided bridge walkways to the main building, this eye-catchingsculptural form is designed to capture theimagination of those who see it. Yet surprisingly, it’s also a fully functional,enclosed 55-seat lecture space with aviewing platform on top.

The Spark, Southampton Solent University’s striking new academic focal point, is firing up a lot of interest. Ray Philpott explains why

Creating a red-hot seat of learning

THE SPARKSOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY

27THE SPARK, SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY


Ian Pratt director, Scott Brownrigg

The idea for the pod wasborn from discussionsabout what the Universitybrand symbolises:‘confident, bold, ambitious,dynamic, distinctive,imaginative, warm and welcoming’

The Pod is overlooked by glass-balustrade walkways and projectingbalconies, serving as break-out spaces setamong the white-walled atrium, designed tocreate a bright ‘welcome space’ for visitors,students, academics and university staff.

Beneath the Pod, exploiting the site’stopography, a broad stairway leads to thelower ground floor levels featuring twolarge lecture theatres boasting 150 and 200seats respectively, along with classrooms,kitchens, offices and a plant room.

The building contains more than 30teaching rooms, a cafe, a fine dining areaand new conference facilities.

The journeyThe Spark is the culmination of a four-yearjourney for the building’s designers, international architects Scott Brownrigg, tocapture and realise the vision for the futureof teaching and learning and to facilitatewider campus development.

After being awarded the project in 2011,

the practice ran a programme of extensiveconsultation and engagement at all levelswith the University and its key stakeholdersto develop the project brief and design proposals. Planning was granted in May2014 and work began on site in June 2014.

A well as being a hub for learning, ScottBrownrigg and the University were keen forthe Spark to have a strong civic presence,enjoy a positive relationship with the park and be accessible by the communityand businesses.

With no significant congregational spaceon the existing East Park Campus theUniversity was using courtyard space andmarquees for major events, a situation theSpark needed to put right.

To fulfil the University’s requirements,Scott Brownrigg director Ian Pratt and histeam embraced some significant designchallenges as opportunities.

The Spark is situated on the University’sformer campus vehicle access ramp,accessed via East Park Terrace, the road

28 THE SPARK, SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY


that runs along the front of the campus.Not only was the vehicular access unattractive to look at, it effectively severedthe development site from the rest of the campus.

Furthermore, the multi-level, stepped site is immediately adjacent to the 1960s-vintage Sir John Everett Millais Building,one of a varied mix of structures formingthe nucleus of the institution.

Pratt explains: “The first step was to freeup the site by moving the vehicular accessto the periphery of the campus, using landto the north acquired for development, alsohelping to reduce traffic flows along EastPark Terrace.

“The building needed to be set back from the road with view across to the park.We proposed an L-shaped building adjoining the wall of the existing building,creating a three-sided atrium space at the building’s heart, the central circulationarea. It’s lit by day by large linear rooflights and the west-facing fully glazed main entrance.”

The structure is flat-slab reinforced concrete with off-site, precast and pre-glazed concrete cladding panels fromTechcrete. This enabled the envelope to be made weather-tight and insulated in justsix weeks, saving time and money.

Engineering challenges“There were complex engineering chal-lenges throughout, such as avoiding theSouthampton geothermal main – runningwithin a metre of the eastern edge of building – during piling.

“Integrating the new building with theexisting one was certainly demanding. Weneeded to modify and back-prop parts ofthe 1960s building to install the atriumfloor, while the East Park Deli cafe has beenbuilt inside the ground floor of the olderstructure as part of an entire redevelopmentof that floor.”

A completely new, facade mirroring theexterior of The Spark was added to theexternal envelope of the old building toform the third ‘side’ of the atrium, enabling



services, ducting and utilities to be runbehind it.

Pratt adds: “And all this happened while the University operated as normallyas possible. The main contractor Interservewas very helpful and proactive in this areaand throughout the project.”

The PodUndoubtedly though, the greatest designand engineering challenges centred aroundthe eye-catching Pod in the atrium.

Pratt says: “The idea for the Pod wasborn from discussions about what theUniversity brand symbolises: ‘confident,bold, ambitious, dynamic, distinctive, imaginative, warm and welcoming’. That’sthe kind of response we wanted to generatein people and we drew our inspirationfrom that.

“We wanted it to be functional but felt itneeded to be a captivating sculpturalfeature. You can see elements of theUniversity’s maritime heritage in there but

Professor Graham Baldwin, vice-chancellor,Southampton Solent University

The building’s hugeattention-grabbing centralatrium has brought agenuine wow factor to the campus



people have compared it to many things;for example an alien craft from in War ofthe Worlds film, a pebble, a bean, an eggand even a sweet. To us, that shows peopleare engaging with it and pausing for thought.”

Constructed in the Netherlands by CIG, the Pod is made from 10 mm-thick,cold-pressed British steel panels, weighssome 67 tonnes and was fabricated using a hi-tech process.

Individual panels are cut by laser and

shaped – mostly by computer but also using highly skilled human press operators.These components were welded togetherand ground smooth to create a single structure which was then cut into panelsusing hand-held angle grinders, taken into a car paint workshop and sprayed‘Solent red’.

In the UK panels were lifted into place,bolted together and to the innovative steelsuperstructure designed by civil and struc-tural engineers Scott White and Hookins

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Southampton Solent UniversityArchitect and lead designer: Scott BrownriggProject manager: GleedsMain contractor: InterserveCivil and structural engineer: Scott White and HookinsM&E engineer: WSP (pre-contract),Arup (post-contract)Acoustic consultant: Hann Tucker AssociatesFire engineering consultant: International Fire Consultants LtdBREEAM assessor: GleedsIT/AV consultant: Turner & TownsendTown planning consultant: Turley AssociatesHighways, traf(c and transportation consultant:Scott White and HookinsFF&E consultant: BroadstockCost management consultant:Faithful+Gould

FAST FACTS

Project cost: £33mSix storeys highFloorspace covered: 10,000 m2

80 seats inside pod350 seats in two lecture theatres30 tuition/learning roomsCompleted summer 2016First students September 2016Rated BREEAM Excellent



with 6 mm shadow gaps between eachpanel. The inner lining comprises reinforced red

painted perforated aluminium to reducereverberation with shapes and lines reflect-ing the exterior geometry and comescomplete with a curved video screen.“When you step inside it’s a bit like

boarding a spaceship or a boat – youreally do feel like you are about to embarkupon a journey. It’s a destination in itself,”comments Pratt.

StrategySituated on an island site, surrounded byroads, The Spark has a sealed facade tominimise noise and air pollution, necessi-tating use of mechanical ventilation and airconditioning. Yet Scott Brownrigg and theUniversity achieved their joint ambitionand the building achieving BREEAMExcellent status. “The strategy has been to utilise the

thermal mass of the concrete frame tobalance out the heating and cooling,”explains Pratt.Concrete soffits are exposed in the main

teaching spaces, which feature prefabri-cated, multi-service ‘active chilled’ beamscarrying the air supply and connected toair-handling units on the roof. Exhaustedair leaves the classrooms through attenu-ated louvres and up into the atrium louvreswhere heat is extracted and reused. This system is complemented by a battery

of photovoltaic cells on the atrium roof andextensive use of low-e glass, while most ofthe classrooms are north facing, reducingsolar gain.

The details of this system were capturedin the Level 2 Building Information Model(BIM) produced by Scott Brownrigg and theother design consultants and used to gener-ate all design and construction drawings.“BIM was crucial to the success of the

project and a fundamental design tool fromthe outset. It helped us to test out and suc-cessfully demonstrate our ideas, commission3D printed models, produce fly-throughanimations and gain buy-in, understandingand finalisation.”The Spark’s success can be measured by

the reaction from the University leadership.As Professor Graham Baldwin,Southampton Solent’s vice-chancellor putsit: “The building’s huge attention-grabbingcentral atrium has brought a genuine wowfactor to the campus.”Director of estates, David Corless, adds:

“Scott Brownrigg have been instrumental inhelping shape the future plans for estatedevelopment on the city campus.”He continues: “Their bold, ambitious

and innovative design encapsulates theUniversity’s strategy and vision. The inter-nal configuration of varying classroomtypes and sizes, and informal and formalsocial space demonstrates their under-standing of the needs of teaching andlearning for a modern university.”And the Spark is already making an

impression overseas, too.Pratt comments: “One University lecturer

told us that during a talk in China heshowed the audience a picture of The Sparkthey all spontaneously stood up andapplauded. I think we can take that as a compliment.”

Ian Pratt, Scott Brownrigg

BIM was crucial to thesuccess of the project anda fundamental design toolfrom the outset

All im

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33


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Planning for a playground as part of anew-build project or enhancing anexisting play space for a school

upgrade can be very time consuming. Withalmost 10 years’ experience in this industry,believe me, I know.

Time restraints and deadlines make it alltoo easy to cast a search online for playequipment, followed by the temptation tobuy it, have it delivered to site and installyourselves. While in essence choosing anoff-the-shelf solution may be quicker, thereare factors that are vitally important toconsider during a playground development,at times missed without the knowledge andexperience of an expert. This research andinformation collection, coupled with theunderstanding of our industry is whatmakes the use of a specialist playgroundprovider worth their weight in gold.

Here we cover some of the key reasons asto why a specialist playground companycan help you in reaching the projects goalsfor an exceptional outdoor space.

With building a relationship with a playground company comes trust, becauseyou get to know one another and develop acertain style for projects. This in turn means

the provider can identify and recommendproducts that are the most suitable for aproject and they are always on hand tooffer advice when needed most.

Safety standardsRecognising the importance of play andrisk, the British & European SafetyStandards are designed to prevent injury(while not being able to prevent all injurynecessarily). By having a playgroundspecialist on hand, we can identify risk anddesign all play provision to meet the strictBSEN 1176 and 1177 standards, to ensurethat the playground is designed appropri-ately for the project and the available space;not just aesthetically, but practically andwith consideration of safety. No two spacesare ever identical and with that in mind, notwo projects I have ever designed have beenidentical either.

Experienced installersUtilise the experience of a playgroundspecialist’s installation team – fully trainedand experienced constructors who work tothe most exacting standards. It ensures thatall important factors are met during the

Julie Pearce of Sovereign Design Play Systems highlights the importance of using aspecialist playground provider

Raising standards in play

With building arelationship with aplayground companycomes trust, because youget to know one anotherand develop a certain stylefor projects

34


build and that the life expectancy of theplayground is as great as possible.

DesignEnsure the play provider is fully understanding of the school’s teachingframework and curriculum, which leadsdirectly on to ‘learning outside the classroom’ and the understanding of‘zoning’ a space. It really is so much morethan placing equipment in spaces that fit.

The understanding of a school’s approachand teaching of the children will enhancethe designer’s ability to create a spaceperfect for encouraging learning outside,not just play.

This could be by creating a zone forphysical activity, a creative space for learning and development, an area for role play and fun, or an educational zonefor literacy, numeracy and language development. The list is endless.

Quality and experienceA specialist play provider’s quality of craftsmanship and installation ensures thata play space is built to last. This, coupledwith the warranties that accompany aninstallation all makes for a durable andsustainably sourced play space that will lastfor many years. I would always look for a20- year warranty on timber, with five years

of product warranty on surfaces and fiveyears on playground markings (coveringnot only the performance of material, butalso the application).

The offering Understanding a play specialist’s full offer-ing can provide significant value to aproject. I recently met with an architect andthe project team of a new-build school whohad called me in to look at some equipmentfor them. They had done the same with acanopy supplier, a surfacing provider and amarkings company, without knowing that aspecialist play provider has the uniqueability of delivering an entire project -–particularly if they manufacture. Thismeans both time and money saved, withone person responsible for the whole play-ground development.

I cannot begin to tell you how invaluablea relationship with a play provider willprove to be.

You build relationships, get fantasticvalue for money, but above all – you can beconfident in them delivering a playgroundproject that will thrill children, safe in theknowledge that everything has beenthought of and taken care of.

Julie Pearce is a consultant play specialistfor Sovereign Design Play Systems

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Student accommodations can be noisyenvironments which can disrupt sleep,add to stress, infringe on privacy, and

generally compromise quality of life. Achieving a high acoustic performance

throughout a building where there are light-weight walls and many social break-outspaces is a task that needs to be done rightfrom the off. As developers and clients are more

frequently choosing modern methods ofconstruction, such as off-site and modularbuilding, the need to get the acoustic speci-fications right has become more importantthan ever. When designing these types ofmixed-use multi-occupancy living, there area lot of factors that need to be considered atthe planning stages to ensure the designbrief is met.

Beyond the minimumKeep in mind the minimum requirementsunder Part E of the Building Regulationsare really just that – the bare minimum of

what needs to be achieved. Mostcomplaints made about noise issues canoccur in properties which only scrapedpasses through onsite pre-completiontesting. Therefore, always look to design forat least a 5 dB improvement on the minimalvalues set out in Part E as a safety factor,for effective levels of sound proofing andalso to allow for any workmanship issuesduring installation. Even if your scheme doesn’t qualify

under the Robust Details (RDL) scheme,you should still look to adopt theseconstruction methods in to your designs.Having been rigorously tested on manyprojects before gaining RDL Part L compli-ance, they exceed the minimumrequirements under Part E. Adoptingcommonly used details such as E-FT-5(timber frame) and E-FS-3 (light gauge steelframe) will help speed up the design process in the knowledge that either system gives you peace of mind inyour materials choice.

Build to last With fast-build projects, choosing materialsthat are not necessarily the cheapest yetoffer the best value to the whole buildprocess can prove to be invaluable tomeeting tight build programmes. Most newstudent accommodation projects will lookto install high-quality vinyl floor finishes,and these cannot be laid to a 50 mmscreeded floor until at least 50 days after ithas been installed and allowed toadequately dry out.By nature, student accommodations need

a hard-wearing, robust acoustic flooring

Cellecta’s Richard Hillman offers some sound advice on achieving high acousticperformance in student accommodation

Quiet please!

Seek advice from relevantproduct manufacturers toensure the materials arecompatible and have beentested together before

37


build to deal with everyday life in a halls ofresidence. Multiple floor finishes such asvinyl, ceramic tiles, laminate flooring andcarpets may have to be installed in additionto the acoustic floor.Always seek advice from the relevant

product manufacturers to ensure the mate-rials are compatible and have been testedtogether before. Additional floor prepara-tion, such as overlaying a chipboard-basedacoustic floor with plywood and flexiblelevelling compounds can sometimes addsubstantial costs to individual packages tocause further delays on site.

Environmental targetsThere are several solutions within themarket place that can be considered, butonly one dry screed treatment boardproduct that is manufactured from 100 percent recycled content, a significant benefitfor architects and specifiers aiming toachieve maximum BREEAM points.

Managing deliveriesFurther delays to the process can be causedby restricted site access on universitycampuses and city centre developments. Intruth, timed deliveries and poor site

locations really don’t mix well. An exampleof this is a failed flowing screed deliverythat typically needs to be installed withinhours of leaving the production plant.It could best to select solutions that can be stored on site and accessed as and when required. Some companies will allow you to call-

off the product when you need it, whileothers will deliver the complete job at once.To avoid issues, it’s worth asking yourchosen suppliers how they operate as youmay have little room for large pallets. Easy to handle 1,200 mm x 600 mm

boards are ideal for storage and distributionaround the site. As they are just under 20kg per sheet, it’s a one-man lift compared tothe flowing screed that typically needs to beinstalled within hours of leaving theproduction plant.Asking for advice before your project

gets fully underway could save you andyour client valuable time and money – somake the most of the knowledgeable technical teams available.

Richard Hillman is ScreedBoard managerfor Cellecta

Design for at least a 5 dBimprovement on theminimal values foreffective levels of soundproofing

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Building for education comes with itsown set of challenges, often includingterm date-dictated timescales.

In common with most construction projects, budgets are strict and siteconstraints are often testing too. Schools,colleges and universities are under pressureto minimise running costs and improve efficiency, leading them to make provableperformance demands of their buildings. These factors are contributing to an

exciting shift towards the use of smartermaterials such as lightweight, offsite-manufactured cladding systems, whichbring big advantages to developers, contractors and building managers, as wellas allowing architects a freer design rein. Take Hampshire County Council’s

ongoing schools refurbishment programmeas an example. The council needed greaterefficiency, lower running costs andimproved learning environments from theiroutdated prefabricated school buildings.Large windows and inefficient wallconstruction meant heating and mainte-nance bills were rising. But the steel-framedstructures remained sound, meaning thatcladding could be installed onto the exist-ing frames, enhancing external aestheticsand internal space while reducing costs. When considering materials for the build

programme, conventional brickwork wasruled out as excavation would have had totake place to construct new foundations.So, the Council’s Property Services designteam opted for light-gauge steel infill panels with a lightweight, insulating brickcladding system to provide a quick, cleanand cost-effective solution, removing extensive site works from the extremelytight build programmes.Using a cladding system proved to be

quieter, faster and less disruptive and thecontractor estimated a time reduction of 33to 50 per cent compared with conventionalmasonry construction, enabling a brickfacade to be delivered for a fraction of thetime, cost and work involved.

Speed of installationBut lightweight cladding systems are notjust ideal for refurbishment. Constructionof the new-build BuckinghamshireUniversity Technical College (UTC) inAylesbury also benefitted from thepredictable build times such systems canoffer. The use of a brick cladding systemmeant a handover four weeks ahead ofschedule was achieved, with the construction process benefiting greatly from the predictability that a moderncladding system brings.Project constraints dictated an

innovative approach to construction, as didthe fact that the contractor’s start date wasdelayed by six weeks due to planningissues. However, the use of claddingenabled them to take the external facadeoff the critical path, so that the buildingwas weathertight as soon as the steelframing and external sheathing wereinstalled. The brick cladding system effectively replaced the traditional bricklayer’s role of having to blend threedifferent brick types from packs on-site and also meant that work could carry on in almost all weather conditions.

Paul Richards of Aquarian Cladding Systems, explains how ever-increasing demandsfrom the education sector are fuelling fresh innovations in construction solutions to meetthe sector’s needs

Clever with cladding

ABOVE AND BELOWLightweight cladding brought many benefits for theconstruction of this student accommodation in Stratford, East London

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Building lightBrick cladding systems also provide anintelligently simple solution to large-scaleinner-city buildings such as student accommodation. Unite Students, the UK’sleading provider with over 44,000 roomsacross 26 cities, recently experienced thebenefits on its new-build accommodationblock at Angel Lane in Stratford, EastLondon, where the project was completedunder budget and on time, ready for thestart of the academic year. The Angel Lane project was not all plain-

sailing: issues included a delayed start dueto late land purchase, complex architecturalspecifications, complicated site access and afixed completion date – the start of theacademic year. Despite this, the landmark 14-storey

build went so well that in 2016 the CIOBProject Manager of the Year Award waswon by McAleer & Rushe project manager,Paul Marlow, in part because of his adop-tion of a lightweight cladding system for the scheme.

Cost cuttingThe entire project, comprising 759 studentbedrooms and commercial space around anopen courtyard, was built in 18 months,with the cladding installation taking aroundseven months. Having switched from a

post-tensioned concrete frame to reinforcedin situ, the critical benefit of using lightweight cladding was that it eliminatedthe extensive tower crane hook-timerequired by a precast solution, as it could be installed from scaffold, mast-climbersand cradles.The system’s light weight also meant cost

savings for the contractor, reducing thebuilding from around 200 kg/m2 of brickwork to around 50 kg/m2 of cladding.In addition to the lower scaffold and structural support costs, cladding alsocontributed to a reduction in preliminarycosts, thanks to its speed of installation.Although access was restricted by the sitebeing flanked by A roads and a railway line,the cladding system's efficient load sizereduced the number of deliveries by 75 percent compared with brickwork. On these few recent examples and

countless other projects across the UK,modern materials and methods of construction are helping to meet the veryspecific needs of the education sector. They can help deliver robust buildings

on time and on budget that are low maintenance and produce stunning learningand accommodation environments forfuture generations to share.

Paul Richardson is managing director ofAquarian Cladding Systems

Using a cladding systemproved to be quieter, fasterand less disruptive

All im

ages

© B

arry P

earson

ABOVEThe use of cladding brought a welcome level of pre-dictability during the build for University TechnicalCollege in Aylesbury

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ABOVETypical Passivent hybrid system in recirculation mode Changes to the Department for

Education’s ventilation guidanceBuilding Bulletin BB101 are immi-

nent, with the new bulletin ‘Guidelines onventilation, thermal comfort and indoorair quality in schools’ replacing the current2006 edition. As the title suggests, the changes are

being introduced to improve thermalcomfort and indoor air quality. The Priority Schools Building

Programme has piloted the new guidelinesin BB101 and has shown direct benefits to schools through lower capital costs,improved comfort conditions and reducedenergy costs.

The changesA major change to BB101 is the emphasison indoor air quality (IAQ). Referring tothe World Health Organisation’s IndoorAir Quality Guidelines (2010), the updatecovers internal pollutants and externalpollutants in air coming into the buildingif it’s naturally ventilated.

Carbon dioxide is identified as a keyindicator of ventilation performance forthe control of IAQ. For natural and hybridventilation systems, the daily average ofCO2 has been set at 1,500 ppm and not toexceed 2,000 ppm for more than 20consecutive minutes each.For mechanical systems the daily

average is 1,000 ppm not exceeding 1,500ppm for more than 20 consecutiveminutes. This means a manual openingwindows strategy must be replaced withautomated products that sense CO2 levelsand react accordingly.For thermal comfort BB101 (2006),

ventilation guidance is based around airflow rates for background and rapid venti-lation, the latter being used to cover theoverheating criteria. In the 2016 updatethese ventilation rates have been removed.Instead, to avoid summertime

overheating, the new guidance requiresbuildings to be thermally modelled in line with CIBSE’s TM52 ‘The limits ofthermal comfort: avoiding overheating inEuropean buildings’. More stringent weather file criteria must

be used, specifically CIBSE Design SummerYear (DSY) data rather than Test ReferenceYear (TRY) data. In a change to workingpractice, designers must also look at adap-tive comfort and operative temperaturewithin the school. During the winter and mid-season

months, classroom occupants may besubjected to cooler external air enteringthe building. Guidance is given on accept-able internal temperatures depending onthe room classification and the location ofventilation systems to avoid discomfortbeing an issue. Additionally, the updatecovers the heating system in the building to ensure this also doesn’t adversely affectthe occupants.

Implications for designThe maxim is: design early, design right.Designers should be engaged in the ventila-tion strategy early in the design process.The correct specification at the conceptual

New standards for ventilation in schools are set to transform approaches to design andsystem choices, as James Hammick of Passivent explains

Breathing new life into schools

Designers should beengaged in the ventilationstrategy early in the design process

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Hybrid ventilation systemsoffer a mix of both naturaland mechanical ventilationwhen required

design stage should prevent mistakes frombeing carried through to the final design.Working closely with M&E consultantsand experienced systems manufacturerswill enable designers to conceive a robustsolution from the outset. It is also essential that ventilation is

considered in relation to the mass of thebuilding and that the openings required toachieve the correct levels of ventilation aredesigned in to ensure the right quantity,size and location of the products will suitthe requirements of the school.The new guidance places greater

emphasis on thermal modelling, requiringventilation and thermal comfort design tobe proved using such tools. Calculationsat both concept and scheme design stagesmust be carried out for summer, winterand mid-season design conditions to provethat the design will operate throughoutthe year.

At the detailed design stage it is desir-able to use dynamic simulation toolsparticularly for night cooling. Choosing asystems manufacturer with this capabilityis therefore imperative.

Ventilation strategies and productsA move to hybrid ventilation systems isanticipated (see diagram). While the revised BB101 continues to promote natural ventilation in schools, due to theknown benefits such as night-time cooling

and good indoor air quality, the use ofhybrid demand-controlled products are also cited. Hybrids offer a mix of both natural and

mechanical ventilation when required, forexample, a naturally ventilated systemwith a low-power fan to enable a summer-time boost in times of low wind speeds orto assist with mixing cooler air withwarmer room air during winter. The energy required to temper the

outdoor air in the cooler months can besignificant. To maximise energy efficiency,the design of ventilation systems shouldwherever possible use the heat gains fromoccupancy and equipment to warm incom-ing ventilation air.Designs should also meet the DfE

Acoustic Performance Standards forschools in Building Bulletin 93 to minimisenoise transfer between different areas ofthe school building. This is especiallyimportant between noisy areas such asatria and quieter teaching areas, and thereare now products to suit this need.BB101 (2016) will transform ventilation

design in schools. A flexible and collabora-tive approach between designers, M&Eand systems manufacturers will ensure themost appropriate ventilation solution.

James Hammick is design manager atPassivent and a member of the BB101Advisory Group

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Specifying products for washrooms inthe education sector may seem a fairly straightforward task – but

ensuring regulations are met and the spaceis well designed, comfortable and practicalis challenging. Lack of privacy, vandalism and

inadequate cleaning and maintenance canmake a visit to the toilet an unpleasant andunhealthy experience for students. In fact,recent research undertaken by charityEducation and Resources for ImprovingChildhood Continence (ERIC) highlightedthat the quality of school toilets has a hugeimpact on pupils’ health, education andhappiness. Therefore the design of washrooms in education premises needs tobe about a lot more than simply providingenough toilets and washbasins.

LayoutThe overall layout of school washrooms isa good place to start. As well as adhering toregulations regarding wheelchair accessible cubicles, all standard cubicles

must have a minimum 450 mm-diametermanoeuvring space that is clear of the doorswing. Moreover, when designing spaces forgrowing children, the sizes and fixingheights of sanitaryware must be suitable forthe relevant user age groups, too. Short projection WCs offer a good

solution here, creating the necessary spacewhile still ensuring user comfort. Wall-mounting the pan with a suitable framingsystem will enable the height of the WC tobe easily adjusted during installation tobetter meet the needs of the user.

Hygiene firstAside from layout, hygiene in this environment is extremely important too,with ease of cleaning being key to students’health and well-being. So much so that theDepartment for Education offers guidanceon the issue, stating that to avoid build-upof dirt and germs, the toilets in schoolsshould be wall-hung or back-to-wall. This also offers a solution with regards to

ensuring plumbing work is tamper-proof, aparticular point of note when specifying for colleges and universities which serveolder children and young adults. The cistern and pipework should be concealedwithin the framing system, preventing interference, while being easy to access formaintenance purposes. A dual-flush cistern sitting neatly behind

the wall will also help to significantlyreduce the amount of water used, while notaffecting overall flushing performance. Thisis particularly important in educationalestablishments, which are high-traffic areaswith the potential for toilets to be flushedliterally hundreds of times in any one day.It is also worth noting that in schools,

particularly where younger users arepresent, the recommendation is also toavoid urinals, but where they are specified

With so many rules and regulations surrounding the practicalities of washroom design ineducational settings, Daniel Ward of Twyford talks us through the dos and don’ts ofsanitary specification for the school environment

Washroom design for the well-educated

Energy and water make upa major part of non-staffcosts in educationalbuildings, with over 20 per cent of energy being wasted

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to opt for individual bowls rather than atrough, with modesty panels for privacy.

Saving water pays offThe washbasins in school washroomsshould also be subject to a number of practical considerations. Ease of cleaningfor hygiene reasons remains imperative,making ceramics that are coated with aneasy to clean glaze a particular benefit,while the choice of brassware is also important. Not only should mixer taps forwashbasins be robust and tamper-proof,but they should be ideally fitted with anautomatic shut-off too, either through abuilt-in timed delivery feature or infra-redsensors. Energy and water are a major proportion

of non-staff costs in schools, colleges anduniversities and a major part of their environmental impact. While some schoolswill have greater scope for savings thanothers, overall more than 20 per cent ofenergy is wasted, and a school that isequipped with water conservation devices,such as taps with automatic shut-offs orflow restrictors, plus dual-flush WCS, typically use less than half the amount ofwater used in schools where such featuresare not present.

Longevity guaranteeKeeping maintenance levels as low as possible is an important requirement inschool buildings, where downtime in washrooms can be at best inconvenient for staff and students. This makes the specification of quality sanitary fittings that will be hard-wearing and durable, of particular significance. To limit thefrequency of replacing such fixtures andfittings, their life expectancy should be around 15 to 20 years, with a manufacturer’s guarantee providing the best scope for this. There are undoubtedly a lot of things to

consider when designing washrooms foreducational establishments, with allelements really carrying equal weight. The trick to ticking all of them off and

achieving a successful design is to establisha strong relationship with a manufacturerwho is able to respond to all aspects of awashroom’s design, from layouts anddimensions to styles and materials as standard, so that there is never any need to compromise.

Daniel Ward is product manager – ceramicsfor Twyford

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The University of Birmingham’s new Chamberlain Hall StudentAccommodation is an impressive

example of regeneration which is in keepingwith the landscape as well as providing allessential capacity growth for the future.Consisting of two linked tall towers at 17 at &21 stories and five “finger” blocks.

The facade had to provide function as wellas form. Day-lighting is vital to aid with studying, no dark gloomy corners, a light andairy interior is desirable. Natural ventilationwas a must, however, in keeping with thestructured facade open-in windows wererequired fronted with ventilation panels, toallow ventilation yet not impact on the facades integrity, maintaining the clean linesand sleek elevations.

Continental Installations worked closelywith Comar Architectural Aluminium Systemsand main contractor Balfour Beatty on thecomplex facade. The team designed a bespokecapping profile which was extruded with re-enforced walls capable of fixing the copperpanels directly to it. A heavy duty pressure

plate with a fixing port arrangement, was used to mechanically fix the capping to the pressure plate. Subsequent regular fixings then transmitted the applied loads back to the rearstructural mullion member to ensure there wasno thermal bridging. All connections were fullyisolated to prevent bi-metallic corrosion.

This bespoke design then included inwardfull height opening windows which sat

behind the facade, Comar 5Pi Advanced Tilt/Turn open-in windows were selected. Thesewere perfect for the application as they offerslim sight-lines, thus maximising daylighting aswell as the profiles themselves have thickerwalls that provide robustness and large spansto ensure they stand the test of time.

020 8685 2318 www.comar-alu.co.uk

Chamberlain student accommodation

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There is growing demand for improvedsafety within the education sector, especially in relation to refurbishing

school and academy buildings. In response, flat roof manufacturer Bauder has developedvarious high-performance waterproofing solutions over the years that can be installedusing flame-free methods; removing the needfor a naked flame or hot bitumen at roof topor ground level.

Bituminous solutionsBauder’s bituminous system Airtech has beenspecifically developed to meet the need for improved safety, combining the latest generation of heat activated self-adhesives,polyurethane adhesives and hot air welding foran unrivalled flame-free installation that isfaster and safer than traditional methods.

Cold liquid applied solutionsBauder’s cold liquid applied systems,LiquiTEC, are based on the most advancedPMMA resin technology, combining ease of

application, fast cure and durability withoutusing any hot works, making them suitable foruse in all kinds of flat roof, balcony, walkwayand terrace applications. All Bauder LiquiTECproducts are solvent and halogen free; andunlike many other systems do not containstyrene and isocyanate, which are linked toserious health risks.

Single ply solutionsBauder’s single ply waterproofing systems,Thermofol (PVC) and Thermoplan (FPO),

offer lightweight, fast track, flame-free solutions that are installed using hot airwelding techniques with mechanical fasteningsor adhesive bonding to provide high-performance solutions, which are durable andgive excellent fire resistance. The membranesdeliver strong and flexible polymeric waterproofing that is resistant to weathering,chemical oxidisation and UV radiation.

Supporting youBauder can work with you to choose a roofingsolution that is tailored exactly to your building’s requirements and school’s budgetthrough its honest and expert roof appraisals.Its high performance, safety conscious waterproofing solutions are ideal for anyschool flat roof project and Bauder’s no obligation service means it can perform a comprehensive roof review to evaluate thecondition of the roofing area entirely free of change.

01473 257671 www.bauder.co.uk

Flame-free roo�ng solutions for all your needs

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Architects Datafile websiteThe Architects Datafile (ADF) website isan online provider of past and presentproducts and news items for the architector specifier. architectsdatafile.co.uk is aone-stop source for all the latest pressreleases providing any visitor with accessto information about products and services that they may require. From thewebsite, you can find links to digital

issues that have live links to advertisers’ sites, as well as daily emailalerts to keep you as informed as possible.

www.architectsdatafile.co.uk

Helping schools to grow for 25 yearsEurobrick Systems, the leading specialistin brick slip cladding systems, has supplied its cladding to hundreds ofschools and colleges for their expansionand refurbishment projects for over 25years. Eurobrick Systems supply BBAcertified cladding systems and offer a

wide range of brick slip finishes, suitable for new build, modular andretrofit projects. Eurobrick is lightweight, low maintenance, durable,and is quick and easy to install both on and off site. Should you wishto learn more please contact a member of the technical team.

[email protected]

�

Door closer assures safer schoolsUK designed and manufactured, Powermatic controlled, concealeddoor closers from Samuel Heath deliver a host of benefits for educational learning and accommodation buildings.Meeting all relevant fire performance and accessibility requirements,Powermatic door closers also help to create safer buildings and reduce maintenance costs.Being totally invisible when the door is closed and having few partson show when the door is open, Powermatic is less likely to be vandalised than surface-mounted devices. This reduces the risk of afire door being rendered inactive by a damaged door closer and meansthat maintenance or repair costs are minimised.

0121 766 4200 www.concealeddoorclosers.com

Keeping a School looking smart, tidyand clean can be a daunting task whenfaced with budget constraints.

Continual re-painting and repair of wallsand doors damaged by general use of a building can become a drain on the maintenance money pot.

Yeoman Shield wall and door protection can provide a solution to the problem withproducts such as corner protection angles,wall and door protection panels and protec-tion rail which will prevent the damage from happening and over the lifecycle of a building will drastically reduce the needfor re-decoration, re-painting and repair.

Establishments who have used Yeomanshield have seen a year on year saving onrepair costs as well as noticing a retention of asmart and clean appearance persuading themto roll out protection into other areas of theirschool buildings.

The new Yeoman Shield ‘hot spot’ indicatorcan be found on Yeoman Shield’s website.

The indicator pin points the areas wheredamage is most likely to occur to the interior

fabric of a school. Hover over these points and the Yeoman Shield products which can be installed to prevent such damage from happening will be highlighted.

The areas depicted are typical vulnerablepoints found in an education building.However Yeoman Shield has a wide range of products including skirting, frame and architrave protection as well as heavy duty

rubber wall protection rails and angles thatcan cover most eventualities.

For more information on the protectionsolutions Yeoman Shield can offer buildingsuch as Schools, Colleges and Universitiescontact our team or alternatively send us yoursolution requirements.

0113 279 5854 www.yeomanshield.com

Yeoman Shield’s education ‘hot spot’

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Reducing noise in the first Welsh Passivhaus SchoolThe Burry Port Community School is the first Passivhaus School in Wales. In a design collaboration betweenCarmarthenshire County Council and Architype architects, this ground-breaking project unites the town’sinfant and junior schools, accommodating 210 pupils and a 30-space nursery class. Its aesthetically pleasing,comfortable and noise reduced environment is also a showcase for the use of Troldtekt acoustic panels. Theoriginal school building has been refurbished, while the extended block accommodates four new classrooms,as well as two further teaching spaces, staff and meeting room facilities. Sitting between the new and old build-ings, a dynamic multi-use ‘pod’ offers group recreation and performance space. A major contribution to thepleasant environment was the choice of Danish manufactured Troldtekt acoustic ceiling panels, especially inthe classrooms and potentially noisy open spaces. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of the100 per cent natural wood fibres panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability,low cost life cycle performance and sustainability documented by Cradle to Cradle certification at silver level.

[email protected]

Senior’s SF52 provides the smart solution for the University of CambridgeAs the new hub for innovation and invention at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering,the James Dyson Building has become the latest high-profile scheme to benefit from the slim slight lines andenhanced thermal efficiency of Senior Architectural System’s SF52 aluminium curtain walling. A key part ofthe building envelope is Senior’s SF52 curtain wall system that has been fabricated and installed by Glass& General Maintenance for main contractor Morgan Sindall, with whom Senior has an established tradingagreement. The system’s slim 52mm sight lines provided the perfect solution to creating an attractive uniformappearance for the new building as well as maximising the flow of natural light into the largely open planinteriors. The robust construction of the SF52 curtain wall system and its exceptional thermal performancewas also key to it specification and meeting the requirements of reducing the building’s overall energy and lifecycle costs. The SF52 system is available as a mullion drained system which removes the need for visibledrainage slots and can also be specified as capped, silicone sealed or as a combination of the two.

[email protected]

Triton supplied 3,000m2 of Platon P8cavity drain membrane to waterproofseveral basements at the iconic West

Midlands Fire Brigade building at LancasterCircus in Birmingham. The membrane forms part of a Type C drained waterproofingsystem (as defined in BS 8102 2009) to the area, which has been converted to residential accommodation for 463 studentsfrom Aston University.

The system was installed by Triton approvedcontractors, Protectahome, working forWatkin Jones Construction. Cavity drainmembranes work by allowing any wateringress to continue to enter the buildingthrough the walls, but then controlling it anddiverting it down the wall to the Aqua Channelperimeter drainage conduit. In this project, theconduit diverts the water to one of 10 sumps,each housing a Triton Aqua Pump Pro Plus kit(each comprising mains powered and batteryback up pumps).

Moisture had been penetrating into parts ofthe basement for several years through thewall/floor joint and various cracks in theoriginal floor slab. Although large floor areashave been excavated to allow for greater headheight and replaced with new floor slabs, manyof the original floors have been left in situ.As the Platon system allows moisture to enterthe structure there is no hydrostatic pressure

on existing floor slabs and no need toreplace them.

Triton’s technical team has worked closelywith the architect, main contractor andspecialist basement contractor from designinception through to overseeing installationand testing of the system.

01322 318830 www.tritonsystems.co.uk

Platon system waterproofs iconic �re HQ instudent accommodation conversion

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Energy efficient ventilation systems reduce harmful condensationiMEV continuous mechanical extract ventilation systems from ventilation specialist Passivent offer a lowenergy, automated approach to optimising air quality and reducing the risk of harmful condensation andmould. Requiring minimal maintenance and no user intervention, iMEV systems are ‘intelligent’: they auto-matically detect rises in humidity and respond accordingly. Extraction is only increased in areas where humidityhas risen resulting in less energy usage as the central fan is not running at a higher speed unnecessarily. Heatloss is also reduced as the systems rely on demand control, that is, extraction when and where required. TwoiMEV systems are available: ‘Local’ which senses humidity change at the ceiling extract in a ‘wet’ room andallows a greater extraction rate, so providing local control; and ‘Total’ which senses humidity change again atthe ceiling extract in a ‘wet’ room and also pressure differences in the system to allow greater extraction rateswhen needed by increasing the fan speed automatically, providing total control. They are suitable for multi-residential properties such as student accommodation and care homes and also apartments and houses.

01732 850 770 www.passivent.com

Fermacell does the maths at Lane EndFermacell’s gypsum fibreboard panels have saved construction costs for a new school. Gypsum fibreboardfrom fermacell was used to dry-line a new primary school to enable the main contractor, InterserveConstruction, the international support services and construction group, to accelerate the constructionprogramme. Fermacell’s 12.5mm square-edged panels have been used throughout the £5.5 million LaneEnd Primary School in Beeston, Leeds, which now caters for 420 three to 11-year-olds. Using gypsumfibreboard panels enabled the dry-lining at Lane End to go ahead with just a single layer of fermacell, in effectnegating the need for one layer of plasterboard and one layer of plywood pattressing, saving money onmaterials and manpower. Gypsum fibreboard panels are resistant to impact, moisture and fire (Class 0, Class1 surface spread of flame / Euroclass A2) and also perform acoustically – a partition with a single layer of12.5mm gypsum fibreboard to each side achieving 54dB Rw of sound insulation when combined withappropriate insulation materials.

0870 609 0306 www.fermacell.co.uk

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Compact courtyard solutionLangley Design was asked to provide acompact street furniture and cycle storagesolution in a tight courtyard space, to matchthis high quality student accommodationproject in Birmingham. Collaborating withthe landscape architects, Langley achievedthe required amount of secure covered cycle

parking needed to satisfy planning and link it with the benching andpicnic tables for the attractive outdoor area for students to takeadvantage of. The plinth mounted benches were designed to have aslight curve allowing them to follow the flow of the walkway.

01793 759461 www.langleydesign.co.uk

Neaco balustrade featured at landmarkNeaco has supplied an extensivebalustrade specification for a landmarkdevelopment as part of East RidingCollege’s new Beverley Campus andEnvironmental Technologies Centre.Architects Jefferson Sheard designed amodern facility which acts as the face of

the institution and concentrates on the Beverley Minster as an inspirational focal point, sense of place and historic context for students and staff. Neaco’s balustrade with glass infills is featuredwithin an impressive atrium space and multi-functional hub.

[email protected]

VMZINC roofs Passivhaus schoolThe £3.8m Burry Port Community Schoolis set to become the first Passivhausschool in Wales. The 1,993m2 timber-framed building is a collaborative designpartnership between CarmarthenshireCounty Council and architects Architype.

They specified a VMZINC® QUARTZ-ZINC® PLUS standing seam vented roof on plywood in a project which added two new timber-clad buildings and renovated the existing 1980s structure. Theproject has received RSAW Welsh Architecture, Sustainability andProject Architect awards.

01992 822288 www.vmzinc.co.uk

Enhanced student living at West VillageThe West Village residential student schemeon Glasgow’s Beith Street developed byDowning and designed by Falconer ChesterHall, features a landmark curved facadeconstructed using Metal Technology’sSystem 17 high rise capped curtain walling.

The entire building features THERMAL range System 4-20Hi+ casement windows. System 17 provides structural integrity, weatherperformance, thermal enhancement and complete design versatility.The 4-20Hi+ casement window system offers polyamide thermalbreak technology and impressive acoustic performance.

028 9448 7777 www.metaltechnology.com

��

Space to interact, study, learn and enjoyS+B UK as been at the forefront in researching and developing new, innovative and compelling specialistscience furniture systems for severaldecades. The SpaceStation shape alongwith the size and configuration options

facilitates and promotes collaborative group learning but is not in anyway restrictive of a teacher wishing to have all students faced in onedirection for whole class address and demonstration. SpaceStationeliminates the inflexibility, safety and restrictive circulation issuesassociated with old fashioned fixed forward facing bench rows.

[email protected]

Architects Datafile websiteThe Architects Datafile (ADF) website isan online provider of past and presentproducts and news items for the architector specifier. architectsdatafile.co.uk is aone-stop source for all the latest pressreleases providing any visitor with accessto information about products and services that they may require. From thewebsite, you can find links to digital

issues that have live links to advertisers’ sites, as well as daily emailalerts to keep you as informed as possible.

www.architectsdatafile.co.uk

Welsh Slate helps students with a new roof over their headsSome 32,000 Welsh Slates have been used to roof the £13 million development of new student accommodationat Newcastle University. The 500mm x 300mm Penrhyn Heather Blues from the Lagan group company wereused on Park Terrace, an exciting development situated in a prime location on campus. Accommodation isspread over up to six floors with lift, on-site entry-phone systems and CCTV. The existing buildings on ParkTerrace were demolished to make way for two new buildings including a mews block to the rear of the existingterraces. The external finish of the buildings is largely traditional masonry and slate, similar to the buildingsthey replaced. Park Terrace was the first phase, with Kensington Terrace following a year later. Welsh Slatesales representative Alex Grant said: "The job was specified as second hand Welsh but due to the large amountrequired it was not possible to source enough material of quite the right quality and so new Welsh Slate wasused, some 2,000m2 of it." The Welsh Slates were installed by M&C Roofing for main contractor GrahamConstruction and were supplied by Burton Roofing Supplies.

01248 600656 www.welshslate.com

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Polyflor helps create new extensionHigh performance commercial vinylflooring from Polyflor was recentlyinstalled at Llwyncrwn Primary School inBeddau, Wales. Cardiff based flooringcontractors CS Flooring Solutions fittedaround 600m² of Polyflor vinyl flooring

throughout the new school building. Wood effect vinyl flooring fromPolyflor’s Forest fx PUR range in the Classic Oak design was installedin the school hall and meeting rooms, whilst high design PolysafeVerona PUR safety flooring in the light blue Skyline shade wasselected for the classrooms, cloakroom, kitchen, and toilets.

0161 767 1111 www.polyflor.com

Top marks for Ahmarra!Specialist timber fire door manufacturer, Ahmarrahave re-launched their popular ‘Education Range’ ofdoorsets for schools to include even more productinformation and technical guidance. Ahmarra’s SalesDirector Sam Doran said, “The re-launch of theEducation Range has generated a great deal of interest from architects and contractors in thissector.” Ahmarra’s range of high performance timber

doorsets and glazed screens are particularly suited to school environments and areas of high footfall that often have specific fire,acoustic and safety requirements.

0239 238 9076 www.ahmarra.co.uk

Ceiling adds architectural featureA new London school’s high-rise play areaincludes a striking ceiling from HunterDouglas. Hunter Douglas was appointed tomanufacture and oversee the installation ofa bespoke ceiling on the covered multi-usegames area (MUGA) and informal playarea on the school roof. The £106,000

ceiling comprises solid timber larch grill and was completed in4-70-20-40 module. It is secured by premium quality sendzimirgalvanised steel suspension rails and has a drop of hangers up to1500mm, plus bird netting over the carrier system.

01604 766251 www.hunterdouglas.co.uk

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Flooring helps create a greener schoolDecorative safety flooring fromPolyflor was recently installed at the newhome of Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd, a Welshlanguage primary school in Newtown,Wales. Polysafe Vogue Ultra PUR safetyflooring in Woodland Grey was installed inthe school’s classrooms and toilet areas.

Polysafe Vogue Ultra is a high durability safety floor with a multi-chip design which, like all Polysafe flooring ranges, features safetyparticles through its performance layer to provide increased tractionunderfoot, ensuring sustainable wet slip resistance.

0161 767 1111 www.polyflor.com

Gerflor produce Welsh Wonder!The Abertillery Primary School north ofNewport in Wales has been built on the existing school site and serves pupils from theexisting Abertillery and the Blaentilleryschool catchment areas. Willmott Dixon were awarded the contract to carry out pre-

construction works. It would be a project where they would demandthe highest standards. This provided a perfect opportunity for Gerflorto showcase a number of their products including; Taraflex® vinylsports flooring, Tarasafe™ Ultra vinyl safety sheet flooring and theiroutstanding homogenous Mipolam Symbioz™ vinyl flooring.

01926 622600 www.gerflor.co.uk

High outputs. Low running costsThe innovative aluminium and copperemitters in every Autron LST, containless than a third of the water found in atypical flat panel emitter, producing thesame wattage. As a result less energy isrequired to generate heat output. Plus,heat transfers to a room far quicker, andin a more controllable manner, than

with both flat panel radiators and underfloor heating systems. Inaddition, the safe-to-touch casings make them the ideal choice for usein schools and care home environments.

01952 290498 www.autron.co.uk

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Exmouth Community CollegeLuceco has recently supplied an LED lightingsolution for new buildings at ExmouthCommunity College in Devon. Specified byHamson Barron Smith, Luceco supplieddimmable LED luminaires for new classrooms

and circulation areas. LuxPanels from Luceco offer a unique design,the high efficiency Backlit panels has a completely framelessappearance and boasts a market leading efficacy of 147 luminairelumens per watt. Carbon Downlights were also installed in circulationareas providing an ideal replacement for compact fluorescentdownlights, offering running cost savings of up to 60 per cent.

01952 238100 www.luceco.uk

Acoustics within education... explainedIt is crucial for modern day educationenvironments have good acoustics. To ensureeffective soundproofing, all acoustic productsused should comply with Guidelines BB93 ofthe UK Building Regulations ApprovedDocument E, Section five of the Scottish

Building Standards and Approved Part G (Northern Ireland). Hushprovides comprehensive guidance on education build projects ofany size. Hush explains how individual areas within an educationbuilding can be affected by sound and can give expert advice on howto reduce reverberation, airborne and impact noises.

0151 933 2026 www.hushacoustics.co.uk

Geberit Acoustics

Geberit’s reliable and innovative sanitary and piping systems provide the ultimate solution for better acoustics. We cover the complete solution, from supply through to sanitary and drainage, to ensure that everyone gets a good night’s sleep whenever water passes through the building.

Silence installed.

Book your approved

Acoustic CPD

with Geberit today.

www.geberit.co.uk/cpd

Noise reduction in sanitary installations.

www.geberit.co.uk

building for education adf and student … · adf november 2016 hawkins\brown has completed the...

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