J/Feb 2024 • £8 also in this issue: ebf Scotland preview Join us at Stable Event’s education building forum on 25-26 April Façades Brick gives Glasgow Primary School a striking façade Outdoors Using canopies to optimise play areas in a Cambridge school also in this issue - hee magazine: Design solutions: State-of-the-art teaching and research facilities for more than 3,000 students Technology: How sensors, software and the Internet of Things can drive sustainability on campus Flooring solutions: University College London (UCL) embraces sustainable flooring Passivhaus comes to Dundee Insights from the architect behind an ambitious project uniting two Scottish schools
educationdab.co.uk 3 VAT’s not the way to do it AS we start the new year, both private and state sector schools will be growing increasingly anxious about the likelihood of Labour becoming the governing party and imposing 20% VAT on school fees. Private schools, because they will lose many pupils; something many can ill afford to do. State schools, because they will gain many pupils; something most can ill afford to do either. Both sectors will suffer as a result of a social engineering measure that might raise perhaps £1bn to start with, and far less each subsequent year. Private schools are not all like Eton and Westminster. Many are modest establishments, charging much less than their glamorous cousins, but nevertheless provide an excellent education to pupils whose families are far from rich. A large number of those families will no longer be able to afford the higher fee levels that would follow a VAT imposition. Where do their children go then? To local state schools which are already under great pressure, and often struggling, to cope with their current class sizes and resources. Any money a Labour government raises from charging VAT on school fees will only reach the state sector slowly, and is more likely to be allocated to improving salaries than improving facilities. The schools will have to cope with extra pupils as best they can. It is a far from optimal way to improve state education, and at the same damages schools that provide an excellent education. Where is the sense in that? It's an issue that will become increasingly heated as the election approaches. In the meantime, excellent work continues to be done by architects and contractors in delivering high-class schools. In this issue, we have an very interesting feature, “What it takes to make Passivhaus education buildings a reality”, by Joanne Hemmings, Associate at Holmes Miller, which gives some valuable insights into the Passivhaus building process. And we also have an equally helpful article from Jo Marchant, author of “The School Premises Handbook”, who reflects on her recent experience in supporting an alternative provision with their new school build process. There’s also plenty of our usual case studies of how suppliers have brought their expertise to bear on schools all round the country, and on page 12 are full details of how to join us for our ebf Scotland Forum, a must-attend event and one guaranteed to deliver insights and new business opportunities across the sector. I hope to see you there. What it takes to make Passivhaus education buildings a reality This Dundee campus project has been described as “the most important investment in the city’s future”. Story pages p10-11 Editor Andrew Pring Sales director Julian Walter Production Nicola Cann Design Sandra Cid Managing director Toby Filby The publishers do not necessarily agree with views expressed by contributors and cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication. Publishers Stable Publishing Limited, SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH, England. t. 020 8288 1080 f. 020 8288 1099 e. [email protected] Andrew Pring Editor [email protected]
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educationdab.co.uk 5 educationdab.co.uk contents J/Feb 2024 7 Private schools that have historically been the subject of strong investment remain well-placed to weather the storm of the cost of living crisis, high inflation and interest rates, says the property agency Christie & Co. 8 Analysis Jo Marchant, author of “The School Premises Handbook”, discusses supporting an alternative provision with their new school build process. 10 Design Solutions What it takes to make Passivhaus education buildings a reality – the thinking underpinning an ambitious project in Dundee. 12 ebf Scotland All you need to know about taking part in Stable Event’s fourth education building forum in Scotland on 25-26 April this year. 15 Interiors Creating North Kelvinside Primary School’s striking façade by using a brick slip soffit systems and masonry support combinations. 17 Exteriors Canopy optimises play area in Cambridge, and rooflights enhance the educational experience in a new state-of-the-art Additional Support Needs school (ASN) in East Dunbartonshire.
6 educationdab.co.uk news THE problem with RAAC that has affected more than 100 schools in England offers “a unique opportunity for the Government and the construction industry to reevaluate their approach to building sustainability and safety,” says Tony Sheridan, Group Commercial Director for Cemfree. He suggests the widespread adoption of low-carbon alternatives that can “revolutionise the way we construct our schools and other vital structures.” Says Sheridan: “If these school buildings were originally designed for a 30-year lifespan, it was unrealistic to expect them to last 50 years without issues. If lessons are to be learned we must be mindful of these factors during future design phases and avoid overstretching the longevity of our structures.” He adds: “Another factor to consider as we contemplate rebuilding these educational institutions, is a pressing environmental concern – embodied carbon. The concrete originally used in these structures, and the replacement materials chosen, play a pivotal role in determining their environmental footprints and this is where products such as Alkali-Activated Cementitious Materials (AACMs) can make a huge difference.” Sheridan’s company, Cemfree, says that school designers can cut a school’s carbon footprint by upto 85% compared to Portland Cement by using AACMs and still maintain the integrity of concrete. Says Sheridan: “The situation with schools in England serves as a pivotal moment, highlighting the importance of responsible design, sustainability, and material selection in construction projects. It offers us a choice – to rebuild with materials that are both resilient and environmentally conscious or continue to use very carbon intensive materials. Could this be the catalyst for a transformation in our commitment to constructing safer, greener, and more sustainable educational spaces for generations to come?” MORGAN Sindall Construction has been appointed to deliver three schools in the Greater Manchester region for the Department for Education. Star Radcliffe Academy in Bury will be a five-form entry, 750 place, 11-16 secondary school. During its opening year, the school will admit an intake of 150 pupils in year 7. The school – operated by Star Academies - will continue to admit a new intake of Year 7 pupils at the beginning of each academic year and is set to open in September 2024. It was granted planning permission earlier this month. Pear Tree Academy is a new SEND school in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport operated by the Prospere Learning Trust. The school will specialise in catering for students with severe learning difficulties and other associated needs for young people aged 11-18 and will provide 133 places following its scheduled opening date of September 2024. Dixons Newall Green Academy is a new secondary free school operated by the Dixons Academies Trust, with temporary accommodation opening in September 2023 for the intake of 140 year 7 pupils. Once completed, the school will serve 750 students aged eleven to sixteen in the Wythenshawe district of the city of Manchester. Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Morgan Sindall is already on-site undertaking a significant new build and refurbishment project at Newhouse Academy in Rochdale, where it is building a new two-storey 16,100 sq. m building with lobby and toilet facilities, along with associated plant and landscaping works. Simon Arnott, managing director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the North West, said: “We are proud to be delivering these three new schools for Greater Manchester, as well as our ongoing work at Newhouse Academy, working collaboratively with the DfE and the respective Academy Trusts. Working on so many education projects across the region simultaneously presents us with a unique opportunity to make a really significant contribution to the region’s educational offer and local economy – an opportunity we’re determined to deliver on.” RAAC offers opportunity for new low-carbon approach says Cemfree Morgan Sindall bolsters Manchester portfolio with triple appointment Star Radcliffe Academy, Bury Pear Tree Academy, Stockport Dixons Newall Green Academy, Manchester
Private school sector remains strong, says Christie & Co PRIVATE schools that have historically been the subject of strong investment remain well-placed to weather the storm of the cost of living crisis, high inflation and interest rates, says the property agency Christie & Co. The continued recovery of international student numbers is also very positive for the sector, says the agency, although the Labour Party’s stated intention to impose VAT looms over the sector. However, not all schools are equally well placed, says Christie, noting that a number of smaller schools struggled in 2023 to maintain occupancy levels, leading to financial distress in 2023, which, in some cases, resulted in closures. Whilst the outlook for independent education remains broadly stable, subject to current political policies prevailing, a crucial factor in the success of independent schools is in the investment and maintenance of the properties to continue to make them attractive to pupils and prospective parents. As part of its annual sentiment survey, the company surveyed childcare & education professionals across the country to gather their views on the year ahead. Encouragingly, it notes, 44% of people said that they are positive about the year ahead – an 11% rise on survey figures reported in the previous year – while just 14% feel negative. When asked about their sale and acquisition plans in 2024, 71% said they are planning to buy and/or sell this year. In 2024, Christie & Co expects: • Demand will remain for larger independent schools – those with capacity for over 1,000 students - and ones that evidence strong trading performances • Further provincial schools will close, notably schools with smaller capacities in less affluent areas • Mainstream independent schools may see a slight stagnation of market activity in the lead-up to the general election as buyers proceed with caution amid a degree of uncertainty created by the Labour Party’s VAT on school fees pledge. Courteney Donaldson, Managing Director - Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, pictured below, commented: “2023 proved to be an exceptionally busy year for our valuation and educational consultancy teams with their expertise and services being called upon by a wide range of banks, lenders, and investors seeking formal advice for refinancing and secured lending purposes. “While the year saw a number of notable transactions, overall market activity for operational assets remained relatively subdued for schools with smaller student capacities. The differential between schools that are doing well, and those that are financially struggling, appeared to widen further throughout the year, and we continued to see long-established schools having to make difficult closure decisions. Where school mergers or takeovers were not possible due to financial sustainability challenges, there was no shortage of buyers for those schools when being sold with vacant possession, with the greatest demand coming from SEND education providers and other types of buyers having regard to alternative uses.” educationdab.co.uk 7 news THE SEND schools market, which Christie & Co, includes in its annual education survey, is still buoyant due to the growing demand for suitable settings that support the needs of children who are unable to access mainstream education. This is supported by the Government’s pledge to increase core school funding by £3.5bn in 2023/24, of which almost £1bn will go towards high needs. As a result, operators are keen to meet demand by establishing new SEND provisions across the UK. In 2023, Christie & Co continued to see former independent schools coming to the market, the majority of which were sold in swift and competitive processes to SEND and specialist childcare service providers. Demand for organic growth, and the opportunity to buy businesses with established earnings continued to outstrip supply. In 2024, Christie & Co expects: • Demand will continue for SEND school placements • More SEND schools are predicted to open in 2024 • The SEND market will continue to grow, fuelled by demand, but fees and costs are likely to be in sharp focus as budget restraints tighten. More SEND schools to open, says report Courteney Donaldson, Managing Director - Childcare & Education at Christie & Co
8 educationdab.co.uk analysis How many people does it take to design a school? WHEN school leaders get the news from the Department for Education (DfE) that they’re going to get a new school build, the feeling is one of elation and relief. That lasts until the first Client Engagement Meeting when all of a sudden, they’re sat around a table with a team from the DfE including a project director, project manager, ICT advisor, and planning advisor, as well as various other companies who are supplying the architects, technical advisor, design advisor, mechanical lead, electrical engineer, furniture, fixtures and equipment designer, cost consultant, planning consultant, preconstruction lead, quantity surveyor, and project manager. To those who haven’t had the experience, the answer to the question, “How many people does it take to build a school?”, is a lot more than you think! If you’re the client, it can feel totally overwhelming, especially when they all start talking in a language that you don’t understand. So how can school leaders and those responsible for delivering the new school building communicate effectively? Having recently experienced this process, I thought it might be helpful to readers to reflect on what I’ve learnt. For school leaders, my advice is to upskill yourselves. All new school buildings will follow the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work which has seven stages. There are two key documents to read. The 2020 RIBA Plan of Work template gives an overview of the seven stages from Stage 1, understanding what the client needs, to Stage 7, when the school has been built, handed over and is in use. The other key document is the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 Overview. It’s 146 pages long but if you want to understand the process you’ll be going through to get your new building, then it’s worth investing the time up front to read it. Both documents are available free of charge from www.architecture.com/knowledge-andresources/resources-landing-page/ribaplan-of-work#available-resources If you work on the design and build side, you are the experts that know what the DfE’s requirements are, what legislation needs to be complied with, how to engage with the local authority planning department, and how to keep the project on track. What you won’t know is how the school for which you’re working operates because each school’s context is unique. My advice to you is to visit your client’s school and see it in operation before you start planning the design. Find out how students and staff access the building in the morning and leave it at the end of the day. How students and staff circulate around the building. How well does their current building provide for their needs? What features are superfluous and what are missing? What are the school’s “must haves” and what is open for negotiation? There are some really basic issues that each side needs to understand. For example, the client may want vinyl flooring throughout because it’s easier to clean, but this means that the designers will need to include additional acoustic panels because vinyl generates more noise than carpet. Trees in the playground are important from a biophilic perspective, but the client will want trees that are not deciduous because of the amount of time that will be spent clearing up leaves every autumn. It is important to understand the type of dining that the client wants to deliver because “family dining” takes longer to serve and eat than students queuing up for their meal and this will impact upon kitchen design, the servery and dining furniture. In short, it’s crucial for both sides to enter into a dialogue at the earliest possible stage so the design and build side can understand their client’s aspirations for their new building, and the client can understand the constraints that the design and build side have to work to. Jo Marchant, author of ‘The School Premises Handbook’, reflects on her recent experience in supporting an alternative provision with their new school build process Jo Marchant
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10 educationdab.co.uk design solutions WITH the usual hint of relief and anticipation whenever a project I’ve worked on begins to come to life, I recently attended the ground-breaking ceremony for East End Community Campus in Dundee. With Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth in attendance, the £100m facility was described as “the most important investment in the city’s future” by the leader of Dundee City Council. By combining community sports and activities, the new Passivhaus campus is designed to support education and leisure and cater to the almost 1,900 pupils of Braeview Academy and Craigie High School, their teachers, staff, and wider community. When you reach milestones like this, it can be tempting to get your head down immediately and focus on the next phase of work needed to ensure the build reaches a successful completion. However, the Scottish government, via the Scottish Futures Trust, has stipulated clear funding criteria for ongoing energy efficiency in schools. So, taking time to reflect on how we got to this point, and how we can expand our delivery of highly efficient Passivhaus schools is essential. To help, I have summarised some of the most important things when working on a Passivhaus school or community building you need to get from concept to completion: An ambitious client: Passivhaus is not the cheapest or the fastest way to build a new school, but it doesn’t aim to be. It delivers exceptional levels of interior comfort, health, wellbeing, longer-term affordability, resilience, and durability. Having a client and end user who understand this crucial first step will ensure the process has a higher rate of success. Architects and contractors can help a client be ambitious by showing the standard is possible with commitment, offering a clear aligned vision for a building’s lifetime, and educating on possible reasonable changes to ensure better sustainability outcomes or benefits for end users. A tight-knit team: Lots of information sharing, coordination and complex processes are needed to ensure a prospective Passivhaus design is built to specification and delivers the desired results. Clear collaboration and buy-in across the whole build and design team, including subcontractors and stakeholders, can ensure this happens. It might surprise some that this even drilled down into researching exactly what equipment teachers often plug-in during classes and for how long, in order to estimate predicted energy use. Explaining why you need this information also helps ensure you get the right details. Be a stickler for detail: The Passivhaus standard is attractive to clients because it ensures a building’s actual energy use is, on average, extremely close to the amount predicted by models. For example, in contrast, the Passivhaus Trust estimate that a nonPassivhaus new home can have a heating demand of 60% more than forecast using SAP modelling. To avoid that and ensure a high efficiency standard in schools, the design team What it takes to make Passivhaus education buildings a reality Joanne Hemmings, Associate at Holmes Miller, talks us though an important and ambitious project in Dundee
need to be across everything, from the building form and orientation, to spaces, materials, equipment and end uses. That’s especially true in Scotland, where the outcomes implemented by Scottish Futures Trust (as part of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme funding) stipulates a gold standard of 67kWh/m2/yr for a school’s overall energy use. This must be met in order to receive full funding over the 25 years following completion. It’s not enough to create a highly efficient completed build, it’s only possible to meet these long-term energy standards if you consider the end user and truly build your design around them. In September, Holmes Miller’s design for the first Passivhaus primary school project in Scotland to be constructed from cross-laminated timber (CLT) opened its doors in Edinburgh. The £3.2 million, two-storey extension to Sciennes Primary School - a grade Blisted building in the Marchmont conservation area of the city - is a successful example of Passivhaus in action. The new-build element offers the school four additional classrooms that lead to shared flexible teaching areas to encourage interaction between pupils. Carefully designed acoustics enable the open plan classrooms to function independently when necessary. Despite challenges posed by the site with the building being constrained in the available area and overshadowed by the existing school, the new pavilion adheres to Passivhaus standards and is soon to receive certification. The CLT structure creates an inviting atmosphere and not only ensures thermal comfort by minimising cold bridging but also contributes to carbon storage and environmental preservation, with every cubic metre of CLT sequestering one tonne of CO2. Furthermore, this material's recyclability and biodegradability underline the team’s dedication to eco-conscious practices. To compensate for the lack of winter solar gain, the design centres on a fabric-first approach, addressing air tightness and thermal performance - including triple glazing. Achieving an ambitious air tightness rating of 0.28, the building envelope minimises openings and cold bridging. An integrated mechanical strategy, encompassing MVHR and air source heat pumps, further accentuates the team’s aim to adhere to sustainable practices. The new facility delivers heating and energy consumption efficiencies without compromising on natural light, featuring large windows with integrated seats, and extensive use of rooflights, while improved landscaped areas in the playground encourage outdoor learning. It is these components, as well as the multi-functional spaces, which truly drive wider benefits for the pupils and offer a long-term higher quality place to learn, play and develop. Passivhaus delivers all this, and when more projects like the facility at Sciennes Primary School reach completion, they will serve as important exemplars across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Ultimately, if you put the technical expertise, intricacy, and work aside for a moment, it’s clear what it really takes to make Passivhaus schools a reality is commitment. As architects, it’s our role to show that commitment is not only possible, but essential if we are to deliver the levels of energy demand reduction needed to achieve net zero across the education built environment. www.holmesmiller.com educationdab.co.uk 11 design solutions Sciennes Primary School Sciennes Primary School East End Community Campus, Dundee East End Community Campus Main Image: Sciennes Primary School, Edinburgh
Time to book your place for ebf Scotland 2024 THE Forum attracts a wide range of university estates and facilities professionals, colleges, architects, contractors, M & E’s, campus and student accommodation developers all working on existing or future higher education building projects in Scotland. The theme of this year’s Forum Seminars is “Education estates that prioritise Scotland's future” Confirmed speakers, and their presentation subjects, as edb/hee went to press are: • Maxine Booth and Mark Mitchell, Aberdeen Council - ‘Pupils vs. Staff’ • Simon Bell, Director, HLM Architects - ‘Improving the Operational Efficiency of Buildings using Performance Digital Twins’ • Steven Coulson, Holmes Miller - The East End Community Campus’ • Karen Pickering, University of Edinburgh - ‘The retrofit route to Net Zero’ • Felicity Steers, Erz Architects - ‘Integrated Green Infrastructure for school grounds’ • Alex Donaldson, Scott Brownrigg - ‘Net Zero Behaviours’ What is the format? This year’s forum takes place over one and a half days at the DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, in Dunblane, less than an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. It offers a unique combination of seminars, 1-1 meetings and engaging networking and social interaction which provide inspiring platforms to create communities that share best practice and build business relationships. The Forum is designed to deliver builtenvironment professionals the chance to learn at first-hand what’s happening today and tomorrow in Scotland’s universities, schools and colleges. It really is the perfect opportunity for building owners and suppliers, architects and contractors to exchange ideas and develop their supply chain options in a highly business-efficient environment. The forum is complimentary to attend if you are actively involved in the design, build, delivery of education buildings, estates and facilities. The only investment is your time, and our aim is to maximise the return on how you spend it. While engaging in networking and social interactions with professional representatives, the gala dinner on the evening of the 25th offers superb entertainment and hospitality, and a chance to relax with peers from across the sector. There is still availability but are going fast. For more information, email: [email protected] or phone 020 8288 1080 Stable Event’s fourth education building forum Scotland – which takes place on 25-26 April this year – continues to draw the best speakers and audience from across the Scottish educational establishments. What: The education building forum Scotland 2024 When: 25-26 April 2024 Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel Web: www.ebf-scotland.co.uk “As designers we often don't engage with suppliers as much as we should. As a Director, I found the opportunity to influence the selections our specifiers will make, invaluable.” Scott Brownrigg “Excellent event, organised and managed extremely well by the Stable Media team, who were all excellent and always ready to help.” TGP Landscape Architects “The Stable Team performed well and delivered a fantastic event in a perfect venue. Brilliant, well organised with quality suppliers and award winning delegates.” JM Architects “It was very well organised and went like clockwork.” Adrian James Architects 12 educationdab.co.uk ebfs preview
advertisement feature Anew sports and leisure complex built for the University of Portsmouth as well as the wider community designed by FaluknerBrowns Architects has set a new environmental standard in ultra-low energy consumption. With an operational energy consumption of less than 100 kWh/m2/y, Ravelin Sports Centre uses only one-tenth of the energy demand of an equivalent sports centre. This is a landmark project which Junckers is proud to have participated in, a unique collaboration between architects, manufacturers, the client and BREEAM. The new building is fossil fuel-free and rated BREEAM Outstanding with extensive use of natural and sustainable materials, natural lighting and ventilation, air source heat pumps and heat recovery, including a bio-solar roof which reduces demand from the national grid by over 20%. The centre includes a swimming pool, a fitness suite, multi-activity studios, an eight-court sports hall, squash courts, climbing and bouldering facilities, a ski simulator and teaching facilities. The large sports hall has been fitted with 1600m2 Junckers SylvaSport Premium solid beech flooring installed by Junckers’ Approved Contractor Hutchison Flooring. Well-known for its high quality, performance and user safety, Junckers’ sports flooring also meet the strict criteria for sustainability and longevity required for a building of this standard. Wood is naturally low in embodied carbon, a consideration which comes more into focus when operational carbon is reduced. Junckers’ solid wood floors are sourced from managed forests with chain of custody certification through FSC® and PEFC and the company holds product-specific EPDs for its flooring. With a proven long lifespan, a solid wood floor also scores highly when comparing maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement cycles. A Junckers 22mm solid beech floor can be sanded and refinished eight to ten times without loss of performance, and with typical 12-year intervals between refurbishments, a design life of 60+ years is easily achieved. An important part of future-proofing new buildings is recognising how a large percentage of embodied carbon is emitted post-completion when finishes need to be refreshed and replaced. At the same interval when a Junckers floor can be sanded and refinished, other sports flooring surfaces normally have to be replaced. This can lead to excessive use of raw materials and energy, unnecessary carbon emissions and pressure on landfill sites, especially in relation to surfaces made from fossil fuel derived materials such as vinyl and PU floors. Flexibility is another key consideration when building for a long design life. Leisure trends come and go but a multiuse sports hall is a timeless component of any leisure centre. The ability to use the flooring surface with its sprung undercarriage system for a multitude of sports, dance, performances, and competitions is crucial. Junckers sports flooring is widely used globally for all ball and racquet sports, dance, ballet, yoga, and other exercise studio-based activities. It is even hard-wearing enough to accommodate wheelchair rugby and retractable seating systems. Tel: 01376 534 700 Email: [email protected] Instagram/Twitter: @junckersfloors Website: www. junckers.co.uk New sports centre sets new environmental standard “When the operational carbon in a building is lowered, selecting materials with low embodied carbon becomes increasingly important. Specifying Junckers sports flooring fulfilled many criteria – durability, longevity, recyclability, and flexibility of use, which had a positive impact on the BREEAM assessment.” Irina Korneychuk, Senior Associate at FaulknerBrowns Architects
Project Delegates Join us to expand your professional network and stay updated on the latest developments in the industry. [email protected] Suppliers Meet with the decision makers delivering active projects in the education building environment. [email protected] 25th – 26th April 2024 The Dunblane Hydro Hotel, Scotland The education building forum - Scotland provides the perfect environment for local authorities, university estates, college and school leaders, project managers, architects, contractors across the education environment to meet with leading industry suppliers, in a relaxed, sociable environment to create lasting business relationships. Tel: 020 8288 1080 www.ebf-scotland.co.uk meet. connect. do business. Creating meaningful connections in business Pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings Select who you want to meet! Receive a bespoke meeting schedule prior to the forum, plus a printed directory with all attendee details. Gain industry knowledge Get exclusive entry to informative seminars, hosted by industry leading professionals discussing key topics in the industry. Extensive networking After a busy day of meetings, naturally extend your relationships over lunches, coffee breaks and networking drinks.
educationdab.co.uk 15 feature Promoting sustainability through retrofitting Daniel Leon, Director of Square Feet Architects, explains the influences behind his firm’s redevelopment project at St Margaret’s School, Hampstead ARCHITECTS working on educational projects are constantly negotiating issues such as student engagement and funding, but one of the most crucial factors for architects undertaking educational developments is sustainability. Modern architecture is increasingly prioritising eco-friendliness and longevity in properties, as many architectural schemes face criticism for being creations of their time that lack enduring value. With buildings currently responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions, architectural planning needs to place a much stronger emphasis on sustainability goals. For Square Feet, this has shaped our approach to projects and encouraged our commitment to principles of retrofitting and biophilic design, best seen in our St Margaret’s School project in Hampstead. The main component of the St Margaret’s build consisted of a renovation, which converted the unused loft into a small working area and open plan rooftop terrace For this, we wanted to prioritise making subtle renovations to demonstrate how unused current space can be adapted for a more modern purpose. Instead of building a new structure in the nearby field and reducing the area’s biodiversity, the decision to retrofit was able to strengthen the vibrancy of the pre-existing parts of the location. Such measures are particularly important in major urban centres such as London, where the push for high-rise developments is seen to cause a decline in the area’s biodiversity, and space is always hotly contested. Developments such as St Margaret’s demonstrate how renovations can improve educational institutions' utility and function without causing a dissonance between the old and new designs. St Margaret’s renovations did more to promote sustainable designs than simply maximising space; it also used more natural and sustainable materials: we made use of eco-friendly materials such as wood beams in the loft and grass on the roof. This element of the St Margaret’s project demonstrates our commitment to future-proofing educational builds by ensuring that they are fit-for-purpose and built to last, but also our commitment to educational projects which, by virtue of their very composition, can positively impact student health and wellbeing. Rather than becoming obsolete or a reflection of the current era, the use of these natural materials improves the development's ecological profile, allowing for further retrofitting which makes the school a far more sustainable location. The utilisation of more naturally strong, biological materials in turn is part of a commitment to ensuring architectural projects are fit-for-purpose. Incorporating amenities such as biological construction materials and better access to natural light is crucial in enhancing students’ mental health, learning capacity, and enthusiasm, while strengthening the institution's biophilic credentials. If educational architecture is to thrive, turning towards natural materials, as we have done for our St Margaret build, will become ever more important due to their dual focus on sustainability and well-being. In some regards, renovating a project is a less glamourous project than new build in that it binds you to the structure of the existing institution. But it does challenge you to find creative ways to insert vibrancy into an existing property, and supports the industry’s push for sustainability. In a very limited amount of space, on the St Margaret development we were able to employ natural materials to strengthen the school’s ability to serve its function, its commitment to student wellbeing and ultimately even its claim to biodiversity and encourage future proofing, preventing the building from becoming obsolete or ineffective. www.squarefeetarchitects.co.uk
16 educationdab.co.uk interiors Brick gives North Kelvinside Primary School a striking façade NORTH Kelvinside Primary School in Glasgow is an educational establishment for pupils from the north of the city. The £23m state-of-theart education building has space for 378 children and includes 12 classrooms. Two general-purpose rooms, a multi-use games area, as well as an all-weather 5G pitch also feature within the school’s 2.4hectare grounds. To assist pupils’ outdoor learning, a sensory garden is currently under construction at the site. Ellmoll Builders drafted specialist manufacturer IG Masonry Support into the project due to its expertise in brick slip soffit systems and masonry support combinations. This partnership helped facilitate and bring to life the building’s striking façade. The frontage features a brick colonnade and bands of protruding brick courses. Although the façade’s bond pattern presented a straightforward task for IG Masonry Support’s technical team, they also needed to coordinate brickwork with several soffits which tied around piers. The team’s main challenge came in the form of the building frontage’s steel elements. Wherever they appeared, IG Masonry Support needed to coordinate its brick slip soffit units around the structure. This obscured unsightly steelwork, ensuring a uniform, brickwork aesthetic across the whole façade. Designed to create spectacular brick soffits as part of a simple, cost-effective installation process, IG Masonry Support’s B.O.S.S. system was deemed ideal for the North Kelvinside Primary School project. In total, 76 B.O.S.S units, utilising Northcot’s Broadway Buff brick, and 56 metres of Welded Masonry Support were required for the building’s brick façade. Each unit was tied back to the steel structure. To ensure the masonry support systems’ precise design in accordance with the architect’s vision for the building, IG Masonry Support used 3D modelling to gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure. The company also engaged with stakeholders including the structural engineer, architect, brickwork contractor and frame contractor to confirm its masonry support complemented each aspect of the building’s frontage. With large cavities featuring throughout the construction, IG Masonry Support also supplied 28 ‘top hat’ steel plates. These were designed to suit a 342.5mm cavity, providing an extension between structures to coincide with the B.O.S.S. units. In these areas, masonry support was bolted onto the top hat. Despite Covid-19 restrictions delaying the works programme by six months, North Kelvinside Primary School opened in June 2022. In terms of the building’s brick façade, IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated brick slip soffit units were instrumental in its timely and cost-effective completion. Their offsite manufacture, which was informed by detailed technical research involving 3D modelling, resulted in each system being delivered for a quick and made-to-measure build, allowing speedy progress onsite. Andrew Black, Owner of Ellmoll Builders commented: “Ellmoll Builders were delighted with the outcome of the North Kelvinside Primary School project. Although the project presented a number of challenges due to its complex structure, the IG Masonry Support team was available throughout the project to provide technical guidance and ensure an efficient installation for our team.” IG Masonry Support’s turnkey ‘onestop-shop’ service was also beneficial in facilitating the building’s outstanding finish. The company’s project teams were available throughout the project, providing technical guidance relating to any aspect of its expert design and manufacturing provision. www:igmasonrysupport.com
educationdab.co.uk 17 exteriors Canopy optimises play area in Cambridge COVERED outside space has been a growing requirement in the UK since Covid, allowing everyone to work and play outside in fresh air. St Faith’s School in Cambridge made contact with SMC2 to design and build a 112 sqm canopy over their play area to protect the children from rain and sun and increase the usage of the bark chip play area which was not being used to the maximum potential for the school. SMC2 worked with BB+C Architects in Cambridge for the planning application. Constructed using glulam timber and textile membrane roof, this gave the school an eco-responsible building that was easy to install due to its offsite manufacture and which optimises the use of the play area. The translucency of the textile membrane ensures the play area is bathed in natural light during the day with no need for artificial lighting, reducing the carbon footprint for the school further. www.smc2-construction.com www.bbcarchitects.co.uk Rooflights enhance educational experience WHITESALES has supplied 14 Solus Monopitch rooflights and four Solus smoke hatches for a new state-of-the-art Additional Support Needs school (ASN) in East Dunbartonshire. Architects NORR Group designed the new state-of-the-art Woodland View School to provide a richly enhanced educational experience for 200 children and young people aged from 3 to 18. Acknowledging the proven benefits of daylight to pupils’ learning and wellbeing, they wanted to use rooflights as well as fenestration to create flexible, light-filled, spaces. With some of the rooflights spanning 15m, the challenge for Whitesales was to design and supply durable, cost effective and energy efficient rooflights and deliver a smooth, hassle free installation. The team worked closely with main contractors McLaughlin & Harvey on the design and specification. Ranging in length from 4000mm to 15000mm, the 14 Solus Monopitch rooflights have been sited above the many break out learning spaces and extra wide corridors in the school, bringing daylight into the very heart of the building. They help to meet the requirements of BS EN17037 2018, which focuses on the physical and mental health benefits of daylight, as well as the energy savings that can come from minimising the requirement for artificial light. Whitesales manufactured and installed the rooflights and four Solus smoke hatches in three phases as the build progressed, utilising a crane for the final installs to minimise time and disruption on site. They were all fitted on upstands constructed on site by the contractors and all comply with BS EN6375, BS EN1026 and BS EN1027 to withstand even the toughest Scottish weather conditions. The £34.9m Woodland View School was shortlisted for Project of the Year – Inclusive Design at the Learning Places Scotland Conference, partly on the basis of the light and space that the rooflights bring into the building. At the opening of the school, East Dunbartonshire Council Leader Gordan Low was hugely positive: “I'm very proud that East Dunbartonshire Council has delivered this landmark project that will make such a difference to the lives of our young people and their families. We’ve worked with pupils, families and staff to create a place of learning and nurture that meets their very specific needs in a safe and welcoming environment.” www.whitesales.co.uk www.norr.com www.mclh.co.uk
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highereducationestates 19 A REPORT commissioned by Universities UK notes “universities are experiencing challenges with financial sustainability due to a decreased unit of funding for students from the UK in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England, fees for domestic students have been capped at £9,250 since 2017 and are now worth only around £6,000 in 2012–13 prices. This means funding per student is at its lowest level in over 25 years.” International fee income has helped plaster over the problem, and most universities are expecting to rely more and more on international fee income in the coming years. But international student numbers may well decline if the Government’s steps to limit the number of dependants accompanying a foreign student prove a deterrent. These concerns are prompting universities to revise down growth projections. Universities UK says universities in all four nations of the UK, and in all parts of the sector, are already making changes to adjust to these pressures – including, in some cases, some quite significant restructuring and transformation programmes. However, notes the report, “While this may provide some relief, the scale of the problem means that even these best efforts will not be enough to return the sector to financial sustainability.” These financial pressures will inevitably have knock-on effects on building and refurbishing projects, as well as universities’ decarbonisation programmes, which themselves have been costed at £6.6bn. As we have noted before, AUDE says its members are examining ways to rationalise and reconfigure their estates, including downsizing and moving more towards remote teaching and learning. Britain’s universities will surely look very different in a few years’ time. Editor Andrew Pring Sales director Julian Walter Production Nicola Cann Design Sandra Cid Managing director Toby Filby The publishers do not necessarily agree with views expressed by contributors and cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication. Publishers Stable Publishing Limited, SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH, England. t. 020 8288 1080 f. 020 8288 1099 e. [email protected] leader and content Challenging times for Britain’s universities look set to become even more challenging Andrew Pring Editor [email protected] inside this issue J/Feb 2024 23Belfast Business School Queen’s University’s new £17.5m Business School provides state-ofthe-art teaching and research facilities for more than 3,000 students. 25Using technology to achieve sustainability Penny Brinsley from Service Works Global discusses how university estate teams can drive sustainability on their campuses. 29New flooring solution University College London (UCL) has been expanding its presence in East London and sustainable flooring is a big part of the project. 31Timber frame wall panels for new timber academy Timber frame insulated wall panels have been used at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford. 23 29
PROCURED via Pagabo’s Medium Work Framework, construction has been approved for a new £5.4m Centre for Employment and Independent Living for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (CEIL for SLDD), as well as a new £5.4m Construction Skills Centre (CSC), as additions to Nottingham College’s existing portfolio. Works for the CEIL for SLDD scheme will include delivering a two-storey new build with a gross internal floor area of 1,350 sqm, comprising 13 classrooms, teaching kitchen, dining area and ancillary spaces across its two levels, as well as associated external works. The CSC scheme will consist of a new build specialist centre to meet the growing need to provide training for construction skilled trades in the local area. Offering a flexible teaching and learning facility that will support the curriculum and estate objectives of the College, the 1,500 sqm building will comprise a large double height construction trades workshop, as well as additional classrooms, a smaller modern construction workshop and associated staff and support facilities. Meeting the rising demand for post-16 sector education to meet the needs of local employers, the building will be used as a critical educational tool in line with the Department for Education’s (DfE) output specification in addition to supporting the sustainability ambitions of Nottingham College towards Net Zero Carbon in operation. Carl Ara, assistant principal at Nottingham College, said: “We’re excited to be working with G F Tomlinson to bring these two new developments on our Basford campus to fruition. As a key driver of economic growth in the north of the city, we are really aware of our responsibility to provide a curriculum offer that helps support young people and adults in the city to learn and succeed in their chosen industry.” GF Tomlinson secures two major builds for Nottingham College Glasgow City Council gives green light to Alumno student residence PROPOSALS for new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on Glasgow’s St George’s Road by Alumno have obtained “minded-togrant” approval from the local authority. The submission was granted permission by delegated decision without the need for planning committee consultation, an increasingly rare scenario. Glasgow’s five universities host over 76,000 students, almost half of whom are living in private rented accommodation. This puts significant pressure on local housing, which the new development will help to relieve. Works are due to begin next year, with Alumno planning to welcome students to the residence for the start of the 2026 academic year. Designed by Carson & Partners in collaboration with Stallan Brand, the new six-storey building will comprise a range of high-quality single ensuite bedrooms with shared kitchens and selfsufficient studios, accommodating 262 students in total. There will also be a number of accessible rooms for those with additional needs. To create an ideal environment for both socialising and work, communal spaces will be provided, including a private dining room, lounge and common study space on the fifth floor. Initial plans for the St George’s Road development include commissioning work by local artists and poets based on Glasgow’s art history to enhance the entrance and courtyard, both of which will be visible from the street. The new building is also aiming for a BREEAM Excellent sustainability ranking. “We are delighted to have gained planning permission for this important development – our second in the city – which will provide much needed highquality accommodation for Glasgow students,” said Alumno Managing Director David Campbell. “Our overarching intention is to respect the diverse community of Woodlands and St Georges Cross, while reconnecting and repairing the missing corner of St George’s Road, reinforcing the character of the area, and re-introducing a commercial space at street level.” 20 highereducationestates news
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