More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and sent almost everyone home, people are getting ready to return to classrooms, workplaces and public spaces as they adapt to a new normal of rules, conditions and restrictions. Post-Covid architecture is in the spotlight today with the design and construction industry engaged in an important conversation to improve sustainability, promote better and safer buildings, and prioritise occupants’ wellbeing above all else.

Stronger scientific evidence and experts’ suggestions now point to smarter, automated ventilation as an integral part of such post-Covid building standards.

A simulation on educational environment

In February 2021, The New York Times collaborated with leading engineers, specialists in building systems and experts from Harvard University to build a simulation using 800,000 points of data. Although there are slight differences in classroom design between New York and Australian cities, the simulation reveals important facts on how ventilation helps limit aerosol transmission in educational facilities in specific and all public spaces in general.

According to the study, the lack of sufficient ventilation creates an ideal environment for airborne virus to spread around and transmit. It is estimated that 3% of the air each person in the room breathes are exhaled by other people.

This image illustrates how the breath of an infected person disperses throughout the room when all windows are closed. The darker lines signal where the contaminants are most concentrated. Within a short period of time and without fresh air coming into the room, the contaminants quickly circulate and remain, posing high health risks for occupants.

This image illustrates how the breath of an infected person disperses throughout the room when all windows are closed. The darker lines signal where the contaminants are most concentrated. Within a short period of time and without fresh air coming into the room, the contaminants quickly circulate and remain, posing high health risks for occupants.

The situation gets better when we leave a window open because fresh air coming into the room helps dilute the contaminants, lowering the risk of exposure for other people in the room. In the simulation, experts manage to achieve four air exchanges per hour.

The best scenario comes from integration between natural airflow and mechanical systems (in this case the addition of a fan and an air cleaner). Instead of dispersing throughout the room, the contaminants focus only where the fan is blowing and are diluted everywhere else.

The simulation once again proves that it is not just about natural ventilation. The smarter, pandemic-proof solution should be an automated, integrated operation of high free air windows and the building management system (BMS). That change in standard and perception now receives more and more support from leading experts in Australia.

Experts call for changes to the National Construction Code (NCC)

In a recent interview with ABC News, Professor Geoff Hanmer from the University of Adelaide expressed his concern as “the way that we deal with naturally ventilated buildings. That’s most aged care facilities or schools. When people shut the windows because it’s cold outside, there’s no ventilation. And the level of ventilation reaches hazardous levels quite quickly.”

While significant improvements were introduced to the NCC 2019 in terms of glazing, ventilation, filtration, air changes per hour etc., there are strong calls for standards and requirements to be updated to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in built spaces as well as for the overall health and wellbeing of building occupants. Many recommendations centre on window automation and building management systems, applicable for both new builds and retrofitting existing buildings, following Australia’s hard-earned lessons with hotel quarantine and outdated ventilation systems.

Joining the conversation, Professor Catherine Bennett at Deakin University also agrees upon the evidence of COVID-19 as an aerosol transmission and encoding safety regulations are “something we should move to, particularly for aged care, or for our quarantine centres…”

The changing ventilation standards in a variety of settings, she hopes, could be “a legacy of the global pandemic” towards a safer living environment.

Source: Architecture & Design

All simulation image credits belong to The New York Times.

Source: The Shropshire Star

The rebuild of an entire school in Coventry has been recommended for approval by planners ahead of a final decision by councillors this week.

West Coventry Academy has drawn up plans for a new three-storey school building, sports centre and outdoor sports pitches as part of a major £38 million rebuild.

A new main entrance to the site on Tile Hill Lane will also be built, alongside a 158-space car park and improvements to the coach drop off/pick up area.

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Proposals have been described as an “incredible opportunity” by headteacher Ana Neofitou, with the funding secured from the Department for Education.

Council planning officer Darren Henry has deemed it acceptable as the bid moves to the final hurdle at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, August 5.

Mr Henry said the existing buildings are “coming toward the end of their life”, with the original school built in 1957.

“There is a need to provide better quality teaching environments in line with modern standards,” he added in a report.

However the council’s Conservation Officer Charlotte Stranks has objected, stating “only the highest level of harm can be attributed to this application”.

She said the buildings “are considered to possess a degree of rarity” and recent assessments found it was in “very good condition”, meaning she is “not therefore convinced that demolition is justified”.

A further 16 letters of objection and a petition of 33 signatures have also been submitted against the plans.

However Mr Henry said there may be sufficient public benefit which would outweigh heritage concerns, and has recommended approval.

A seven-point Public Benefits Statement from the school has also said the new plans will deliver significant investment to improve educational facilities.

A final decision will be made by a planning committee on Thursday, August 5.

If approved, works could begin this autumn ready for completion in spring 2024.

Ana Neofitou, headteacher at West Coventry Academy, said: “The Department for Education funded plans are an incredible opportunity for our students, staff and the wider West Coventry area.

“It has been fantastic for all of us to work with the project team on the detailed design and then see it come to life in the animated film.”

The secondary school and sixth form supports around 1,485 pupils.

A film and further detail on the scheme can be found on westcoventryplans.co.uk.

Source: CoventryLive

ROBERTSON Construction Central West has been appointed as the preferred Tier 1 Contractor by hub South West for a new £12.5 million primary school in Irvine.

The new school, for North Ayrshire Council, will support the continued expansion of housing within the coastal town – with it running to 12 classes, as well as having 32 spaces for three to five-year-olds and 15 spaces for two-year-olds.

The build is being funded as part of the Scottish Government’s £2 billion learning estate investment programme, which aims to deliver high quality, sustainable, low carbon and digitally enabled learning environments that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Shaun Sands, project director for hub South West, said, “We are pleased to be working once again with Robertson Construction, whose experience and expertise will create a truly first-class facility for North Ayrshire Council. The school is due to open in August 2023 and, in line with the Scottish Government’s targets of achieving net zero carbon by 2030, will aim to achieve a yearly figure of 67 kwh per square metre.”

The building will be designed by JM Architects, with the Passivhaus design contributed by Glasgow-based ECD Architects. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sustainability work is being delivered by Atelier Ten, with civil and structural work by Blyth & Blyth.

rt Preston, interim MD of Robertson Construction Central West, said, “Our continuing relationship with hub South West will see the delivery of a sustainable new school for Irvine, which will enhance the learning experience of pupils and conserve and save energy during its operations. Over the coming months we will be working closely with our appointed design team to ensure that the building meets the needs of Scotland’s Learning Estate Investment Programme funding. This high-quality learning environment will introduce exciting outdoor learning spaces; integrate with the local community; create an environment to enhance wellbeing and promote inclusivity which will benefit both attainment and the environment while supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

Source: Project Scotland

Wetherby High School and Royds School both need urgent repairs (Image: Google)

Plans to rebuild Wetherby High School have finally been announced by a senior Leeds city councillor, following months of uncertainty about the school’s future.

While no official announcement has yet been released by the council, the authority’s deputy leader Coun Jonathan Pryor (Lab) posted the news onto Twitter, and claimed the plans would help “safeguard” the school’s future.

He warned, however, that the proposals are “challenging” and would first need the approval of the Government, but had the full backing of local councillors and school leaders.

While the proposals are still in their infancy, a statement claimed further information on dates and plans would be made available in September.

Coun Pryor said: “I would firstly like to thank the staff and pupils of Wetherby High School as well as the entire local community who have been incredibly patient and supportive as we have worked towards this solution which ensures a local school for Wetherby.

“It’s no secret that Wetherby High School has been in need of investment and I have been vocal about my efforts to attract Government funding. Although that wasn’t forthcoming I am delighted that we have been able to work alongside the school and the local councillors to find a solution that will safeguard the future of the school for the local community.”

The announcement follows a plea from Coun Pryor back in June 2020, when he claimed schools in Leeds faced a repairs backlog of £100m.

In his letter to Gavin Williamson, Coun Pryor claimed there was an urgent need to replace walling and windows at Wetherby High School but, due to the age of the structure, the block would need to be completely rebuilt. He added the council could fund half of this, as it could sell some of the land the school sits on, but stressed the council would still needed £13 million from government.

Source: Leeds Live