The design ethos of the school was with BB95 Schools for the Future in mind and the key issues set out in the above document to make the environment more user friendly and less dull/uniform and institutional looking.

The main design drivers for the project were taken directly from the governments recommendations that the design quality should be a combination of:

Functionality
Sustainability
Buildability
Efficiency
Aesthetics
Durability

In conjunction with the architect we developed a servicing strategy that was Functional, Sustainable and Aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The main concerns within the design were to achieve the guidance given within the BB101 (ventilation within schools) and guidelines within the Building Regulations regarding maximum temperatures.

With a combination of a heavy weight slab and active cross flow natural ventilation, we were able to satisfy both BB101 and the Building Regulations.

The ventilation to the classrooms is via cross flow natural ventilation; this controlled actively using two air quality/temperature sensors within each classroom, this ensure that we never exceed the maximum concentration of carbon dioxide within a classroom of 5000ppm during the teaching day, and we are able to lower the concentration to 1000ppm upon purging the classroom. However, the occupant comfort is paramount and the overriding factor within the classroom is temperature therefore the above systems are controlled using differing key indicators and requirements.

With the ventilation controlled using an energy efficient virtually carbon neutral method we decided that the primary heating source for the school had to be from a sustainable source, we therefore selected a Bio mass boiler in conjunction with radiant heating panels to fit in with the aesthetics of the project, this again providing a carbon neutral solution.

A modern school has to be comfortable in respect to heating and ventilation but also functional in terms of usability. In line with BB95, we embraced the ever changing and evolving curriculum looking at the importance of IT based learning with the emphasis on usability and changeability. The classrooms have been ‘flood wired’ with CAT 6 data points and power outlets typically 30/classroom, which allows for one PC per pupil within all classroom to allow the school to evolve as modern teaching techniques develop.