DIAMOND BUILD COMPLETES PRIMARY SCHOOL UPGRADE

Primary school pupils and staff will benefit from an improved environment following a £3.7m refurbishment delivered by Diamond Build PLC.

The works were completed at Chestnuts Primary School in Tottenham on behalf of Haringey Council. The project has added two new classrooms to the site and enhanced the exterior of the school’s main building with new windows and a refurbished roof. Brickwork has also been repaired by the Diamond Build team.

Inside the school, the heating and water system has been upgraded to improve energy efficiency which is further enhanced through new loft insulation. New emergency lighting, fire alarms, data cabling have also been installed along with decoration throughout.

Stuart Darwin, Senior Site Manager for Diamond Build PLC, said: “This was a logistically challenging project as the majority of the works were delivered while the school was open and at one point in the programme, all areas had to remain accessible.

“As the school only had one classroom available for decanting, we constructed the two new classrooms first. These were situated within an existing sports hall and completed over two weekends. This work enabled the pupils to move from the building’s first floor into the new classrooms and for us to safely proceed with the rest of the works while minimising disruption.”

Formed in 2004, Chestnuts Primary can accommodate 420 boys and girls.

Work has completed on Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary School in North Swindon. The school was delivered by vertically integrated offsite construction specialist Reds10.

Reds10 was appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) as principal contractor to design and build the school, which is part of the DfE’s four-year £3 billion ‘Offsite Schools Framework’ and will be run by the Educate Together Academy Trust.

The Offsite Schools Framework was established in 2020 as part of the Government’s drive for greater adoption of MMC to modernise the industry and increase efficiencies, cost savings and innovation within capital building programmes.

The construction of Abbey Farm ET Primary School began in May 2021, and the new building has opened its doors in September 2022, catering to 460 pupils from the local community. Located off Lady Lane, the school is set on a 4.6-acre site and is part of a wider residential-led mixed-use development by Redrow. One of the stand-out achievements of the project is that the building was designed as net-zero carbon in operation ahead of the DfE’s sustainability Output Specification (S21) official launch. S21 was introduced under the new construction framework in November 2021, calling for all new school buildings in England to reach net zero operational carbon.

MMC directly benefits the delivery of school construction projects, through reduced embodied carbon, quicker delivery programmes and less trades on site, which minimises disruption. Reds10 completed the majority of the school building offsite in its factory. In fact, the project achieved 87% pre-manufactured value (PMV), which is 2% higher than their commitment on the framework, alongside minimal waste through the use of MMC with 90% diverted to landfill, and over 100% reduction in carbon emissions under Part L2A building regulation standards for energy efficiency.

The building, which is net zero carbon in design, includes enhanced sustainability features such as air source heat pumps and photovoltaics, both mechanical and natural ventilation to maintain excellent internal air quality, aluminium door and window frames made from recycled materials, GIFA floorboards with 50% recycled content and timber cladding, which is inherently lower in embodied carbon. Using Thrive^TM, its SMART building technology, Reds10 is able to analyse energy usage and production, generating accurate data to ensure that the building is operated at maximum energy efficiency going forward.

 

  Nikki Buglass, Trust Development and Marketing Manager at Educate Together Academy Trust, said: “Abbey Farm ET Primary School has been in the pipeline for several years and it’s amazing to see this wonderful space about to open its doors to pupils. Reds10 have been instrumental in making this happen and their commitment to it has been incredible. In comparison to projects I am running in tandem, the modular nature of the build has reduced disruption to delivery, with regards to materials and labour shortages and time lost to inclement weather. The quality of the build is fantastic, with several of my subcontractors and the Fire Safety Officer, commenting on the excellent standard of work. What struck me the most was their process – it seems like yesterday that the site was just a field and now here we are with a finished building. The pace has been simply breath-taking.”

 

Joe Shepherd, Education Sector Lead at Reds10, said: “As Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary School welcomes pupils for the new school year from September, it is an exciting milestone for us, being our first school to be completed for the Department of Education’s Off-site Schools Framework. It shows that successful delivery of sustainable school buildings at pace and to budget is possible, through harnessing the power of MMC. As project lead, we were able to collaborate closely with the DfE, local authorities, stakeholders and the design team to bring to the fore the full potential of what MMC can offer to deliver a modern, sustainable and nurturing learning environment for pupils to enjoy for many years to come. Abbey Farm ET Primary School sets a new standard of performance for school buildings and we are proud of our central role in delivering the next generation of off-site schools.”

 

 

Claire Wakelin, Head of Education at HLM Architects, which designed the new school building, said: “We’re very proud to have been the lead designer for this fantastic new school. The school engagement process took place during the 2020 lockdown but, using our digital tools and consultation experience, we were able to quickly form close working relationships with the DfE and Trust teams. Our strategic design approach was centred on the creation of a high-quality, safe and secure environment for pupils, maximising the opportunity for learning and socialising. Biodiversity was also a major inspiration, resulting in an environment that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape.”

Cost effective roof drainage & eaves solutions – top marks for aluminium

When it’s a building site.

Two of the primary aims of our education system in the UK are:
• comprehensive learning
•  safety
Alutec will now consider the impact something as simple as building material choice could have on the learning environment.

 

From the perspective of teaching practice, distraction is recognised as one of the main barriers to effective learning. If would be fair to assume the noise and disruption created by the presence of access equipment, drilling, cutting, hammering, would be detrimental to the students learning experience. You could therefore argue in favour of materials with a long-life expectancy that limits the frequency of such distraction.

An educator’s duty of care to student has gained prominence over the last couple of decades too. Building sites are one of the most hazardous places to work in the UK (even without the presence of young children), therefore valuable money that could be spent on labour and materials are being sacrificed to provide equipment to keep students safe during building works. This again argues in favour of materials requiring little or minimum maintenance. With a functional life expectancy of 50 years, Aluminium is that material.

So, we have established how the durability of material such as aluminium could contribute to reducing the disruption and potential hazards that maintenance, planned or otherwise, can have on the learning environment. Does this mean specifying aluminium eaves products compromises choice for designers striving to either reinstate or modernise their school building stock? Not at all.
At Urmston Grammar School in Manchester, the existing eaves system was a combination of dated cast iron and faded PVC systems, both subject to different cyclical maintenance programmes. They were replaced with Evoke Type B fascia and soffit system in RAL 9010 white colour and Evolve Ogee gutter and 76mm Flushfit downpipes in a textured black finish to reinstate the appearance of the existing cast iron – the entire eaves is no longer subject to ongoing cyclical maintenance in the short/medium term.

In the case of St Michael’s Primary School in Southfields, London, the rainwater specification initially called for aluminium gutters attached to timber fascia at three story height. However, after consulting with Alutec’s technical team and weighing up the cost of scaffolding, the architect at Wandsworth Council decided to opt for products from Alutec’s Evoke fascia and soffit range instead to maximise the longevity of the system as a whole. Why install a gutter with a function life expectancy of 50 years onto a timber fascia which will need repainting in ten to fifteen years?
Designers can also take advantage of other possibilities aluminium rainwater systems make available to them, for example ‘Secured by design’ – vandal resistant downpipes which cannot be pulled off the wall or climbed can be used to fortify and discourage vandalism or trespass on school premises.

Sometimes designers also are faced with hazards present within the existing building, for example asbestos. Built in the 1950s, South Holderness Technical College was constructed with a flat roof using asbestos cement roof decking popular at that time. The roofing system used continuous asbestos cement sheets to form both the internal ceiling finish and the external soffits, so removal of these boards was not a practical option. Working with the local County Council, Alutec came up with the solution to encapsulate the asbestos using its Evoke fascia and soffit system. One of the main challenges was designing a system that could span distances up to 2 metres without the need to fix into the asbestos substrate, instead fixing into the existing secondary timber and window heads.

Choosing durable eaves products can limit the distraction and hazards caused by maintenance leaving more time and money for learning.

For assistance with your project,

CLICK HERE to email us or call 01234 359438,

CLICK HERE to visit the Marley Alutec website

Spaciotempo hold key to alleviate pressures faced by Education Sector with temporary teaching facilities.

As the new Spring term rolls around and exams are set to take place back on academic grounds for the first time in 2 years, it might be time to put plans in place now for the 2022 exam season – taking place this Summer.
As academic institutions recover in a post-pandemic World, they might discover that they desperately need additional space on site to successfully accommodate such activities. That’s where Spaciotempo can provide a lending hand.
Not only can they install temporary exam halls, but temporary & semi-permanent classrooms, sports halls, auditoriums and so much more. Each and every build can be produced bespoke and provides the potential to be reused or redefined for further use.
Spaciotempo also recognise that existing buildings on campus require a little TLC from time to time – whether it be because of refurbishment, building works or even fire – but also that continuity and routine must endure for the benefit of learning. As the buildings are surface mounted, they can be erected and in-use in a matter of weeks rather than months, ensuring classroom lessons and extra-curricular activities can continue unaffected.
Not only can a Spaciotempo structure be rapidly installed, but it can also be much more cost effective than a traditional building and is typically 1/3rd of the cost, freeing up funds to be spent elsewhere in the institution. For example, a 15 x 30m sports hall could be yours from as little £935 a week + VAT.

Daz Logan, Managing Director of Spaciotempo UK, re-affirmed the businesses’ commitment to academic institutions by highlighting the importance of their recovery.

“Education across the UK has already been greatly impacted over the past 3 or 4 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we can play a part in helping academic institutions get set for a brighter future. The way we can do that is by providing much needed infrastructure that is both cost effective and rapidly installed, whatever the requirements.”
He added “We have 50 years’ worth of experience and expertise and can provide quality facilities ranging from temporary classrooms to indoor swimming pools, complete with interior fit out as we have delivered time and time again in the past.”

…Funding…
Furthermore, in partnership with Schools Finance Direct, Spaciotempo can help you explore the relevant finance options, provide clear written finance quotations, create a work plan and support and assist you through the whole process.
Schools Finance Direct can provide solutions that meet the complex conditions concerning operating leases and are able to finance temporary buildings for education from £80k up to £2m on plans from 2-7 years.

www.spaciotempo.co.uk

Education is returning to its rightful place on the national agenda now steps are being taken to improve access, outcomes and opportunities for children across the UK as they return to school in the post Covid era.

 

 While the emphasis has traditionally been on resources and teaching quality, the role of the immediate environment is becoming even more important in helping students learn in spaces where the focus is now more than ever on wellbeing, with acoustics, light reflectance, low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and cleanability at the forefront.

 

 Here Zentia looks at how the specification of appropriate ceiling systems have helped two very different schools with their requirements.

 

Morley Meadows

 

A new school for a new community in Plymouth has relied on Zentia’s ceiling solutions for delivering both form and function.

Some 1,200m² of Zentia’s Perla OP 0.95 Tegular 600mm x 600mm tiles, which were the first mineral tile in the world to win Cradle to Cradle status, feature in the classrooms, offices, stores and communal areas at state-of-the-art Morley Meadows primary school.

Part of Persimmon Homes’ Saltram Meadows development in Plymstock, the £5.8 million primary school also features Zentia’s 100% humidity resistant Hydroboard 600mm x 600mm tiles with Prelude 24 non-corrosive grid in the kitchen, showers, toilets and changing areas.

Designed by Stride Treglown architects, and delivered by main contractor Halsall Construction, the two-form entry school accommodates 420 pupils, with part of it able to be cordoned off so it can be used by other community groups out of hours.

Specialist sub-contractor Vizion Interiors had a team of up to 10 on site for eight months, installing a total of 1,650m² of the Zentia products on ceilings, that in the main part, unusually, sloped to degrees of 35° to mimic the sloping roof.

For form, the Perla OP 0.95 tile features a smooth, low-gloss monolithic visual with best-in-class fully painted edges for additional aesthetics as well as durability. The tile also features high light reflectance (up to 86%) to reduce reliance on artificial light and Class A acoustic performance to sound absorption 0.95αw.

For function, as well as its Cradle to Cradle certification, Perla OP 0.95 also provides optimum indoor air quality (due to ultra-low A+ VOC emissions) and is manufactured from up to 64% recycled content and fully recyclable.

Hydroboard also features Class A acoustic performance to sound absorption 0.95αw and light reflectance of 82%.

Vizion Interiors’ contracts manager Andy West said: “The Zentia products were already specified but we would have put them forward regardless because they are superior products which are more readily available, and we have a fantastic working relationship with the area sales manager.

“They had to perform both aesthetically and acoustically and we also promoted the Cradle to Cradle factor as well as the long-term potential recycling benefits. They look fantastic. The grid coped with the design magnificently and the client and local authority have all commented very positively.”

He added: “This project was challenging due to the design and numerous clashes on site with other trades. Setting out was laborious as all the classrooms had to follow the raking roof pitch but in the end it was effective.”

 

Adam Church, director in charge at Persimmon Homes Cornwall, said: “Saltram Meadow is a major development which has already rejuvenated the area. As well as delivering much-needed homes, we are committed to providing the infrastructure essential for building a community for new residents and a key part of that is the school. The building offers an exceptional learning environment for the children living on the development.”

The distributor for Morley Meadows primary school was SIG Plymouth.

 

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg

 

A plethora of Zentia products met a multitude of challenges at a redeveloped Welsh school.

Five square-edged mineral products from Zentia were used on the £20 million regeneration of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg school in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, that included additional BB93 accommodation for 300 pupils.

The modernisation and upgrade of facilities at the school saw the construction of five new extensions, including a design and technology teaching block, a new sports hall, and a reception area and dining hall.

Zentia’s Perla tiles, which feature light reflectance of 86%, were used in the corridors and circulation spaces while sister Perla dB tiles, which perform to sound absorption Class C, featured in the classrooms.

Antimicrobial Bioguard Acoustic tiles, which also perform to sound absorption Class C, were used in the food technology classrooms, and Bioguard tiles, which can be used in clean rooms with ISO 5 classification in accordance with ISO 14644-1:1999, in the kitchens. Finally, Hydroboard tiles, which are 100% humidity resistant and perform to sound absorption Class A, were used with a Prelude non-corrosive suspension grid in the changing rooms and toilets.

They were selected by Austin Smith Lord architects, who have specified Zentia many times before for school projects, as they met the aesthetic and acoustic requirements of this particular 11,000m² steel-framed scheme.

Architect Matthew Wray said: “Our valued client, Vale of Glamorgan County Council, was extremely happy with the project overall and it’s something we’re really proud of.”

Specialist sub-contractor Richard Kemble Contracts, who are a member of Zentia’s Pinnacle partnership scheme, had a team of up to 10 working on site, installing a total of 7,168m² of Zentia products, for 28 months.

 

Richard Kemble said: “This project was challenging as we were just starting when the pandemic hit which caused materials and labour shortages. It was also part phased refurbishment and that meant working around the school children and teachers during term time.”

He added: “Zentia provided technical backup as some classrooms needed to have additional acoustic rating so further calculations were carried out and the Perla dB tile was specified and used in the majority of classrooms to maintain the optimum levels of acoustic performance.”

 

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg brings to life the school’s vision to create an exemplar environment on a single campus, where pupils start primary school and finish sixth form all within one site. IT and the remodelled sixth-form area are now at the heart of the school, promoting Welsh language learning post-16.

Main contractor ISG won the contract on the influential SEWSCAP capital works framework as part of the Welsh government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, designed to transform and upgrade the country’s education estate.

Externally, ISG delivered six new multi-use games areas and a floodlit 3G all-weather rugby sports pitch, which is available for community use out of school hours.

Zoe Price, group director for public sector frameworks at ISG, explained: “Important capital frameworks like SEWSCAP provide the space and early involvement that enables contractors to problem solve creatively and develop innovative solutions that prove transformative to programmes, budgets and social value outcomes for our local communities.”

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg won a ‘Highly Commended’ across the Value and Sustainability categories in the 2021 Constructing Excellence Wales awards. It was also a finalist in the Digital Construction and Innovation awards. The Vale of Glamorgan were also a finalist in the ‘Client of the Year’ award category and the council’s 21st Century Schools programme was also a finalist in the Integration and Collaborative Working and Value’ categories.

The distributor for Ysgol bro Morganwgg was SIG Cardiff.

 

www.zentia.com