"school"

TODD Architects completes redbrick business school for Queen’s BelfastQueen’s University’s £17.5 million business school sits within its south Belfast campus, in front of the Grade II-listed Riddel Hall and enclosed by woodland.The new building, built on a former car park, has teaching and learning spaces for postgraduate students along with facilities for supporting the school’s executive education and leadership programmes, with informal study areas, academic offices and shared spaces.Soundtect supplied their new Acoura suspended ceiling system for a wide range of spaces and areas in the building which worked beautifully with the ceiling design and carefully concealed the M&E that a building of this size generates.

The fit-out of a new primary school building in North-West London has featured the installation of half a dozen different configuration of high quality stainless steel work-surfaces within its teaching, staff and family areas, specified for their durability and visual appeal as well as the creation of hygienic, easy to clean and maintain facilities.The Edith Neville Primary School in Camden has been built by Orpington based Neilcott Construction for the London Borough of Camden with Hayhurst and Co. Architects leading the design team. Project Architect, Jamie Wakefield, commented: “I had seen GEC sinks on another project and we specified them as part of a full Stage 4 design for the Edith Neville Primary School, which has been built for the London Borough of Camden. Schools inevitably get some very heavy usage, but with stainless steel it is easy to clean the surfaces up and get them looking smart again and they’ll still look good in ten years’ time. The different GEC fabrications feature throughout the new school as classroom art sinks, tea-point countertops and in spaces such as the family centre. There is also one in the staff kitchenette and a special studio space. We’re very pleased with how they look and they are working well for the school.”The many and varied units supplied by G. E. C. Anderson include a total of 16 in varying sizes from 1440mm long x 600mm deep and up to 3073mm long x 650mm deep, all with flat surfaces for food preparation and stacking dishes, including ten units supplied with one full size sink and six with a full sink together with half sink, plus three with cut out for cooker hobs, while 300mm high splashbacks- again in stainless steel, help prevent water or waste material staining or damaging the walls. The tops also incorporate five different edge details for such purposes as preventing water run-off.Since its formation in 1962, GEC Anderson has built its reputation for the supply of top end stainless steel sinks and sanitaryware on a combination of innovative design, top quality materials and expert craftsmanship. In addition to the company’s Decimetric system of cabinets, sinks, drainers and other equipment - widely specified for sectors including health and catering – it is able to create custom engineered solutions to exactly fit any space or specification.

Skibbereen Community School, situated on the southern tip of Ireland in County Cork, is a new state-of-the art learning facility created as part of an ambitious multi-million PPP programme. ROCKFON ceiling solutions were installed to help create the ideal conditions for learning and enhance the architect’s contemporary design. ROCKFON ceiling systems were selected for Skibbereen because they either met or exceeded the acoustic requirements specified by the Department of Education. Fire safety was also an important factor and ROCKFON products provide Class A1 fire resistance, the safest fire classification.

79 of Howe Green’s 7500 Series aluminium access covers were specified for Eco-Friendly primary school, St Bernadette’s in Antonshill. Council architects required a solution to access essential services housed in raised flooring including the school’s sprinkler network, hot and cold water supplies and electric and data cabling. The covers were installed by A. Andrews and Sons to cover a continuous run of 75 metres of floor space with additional multipart units also fitted onto adjoining legs. The access covers were designed to be in-filled with industrial grade carpet to match the surrounding area.

Jacksons Fencing has supplied and installed perimeter security fencing at Bickley Park School, an independent school in South East London. The school site consists of a mix of listed buildings and newer contemporary facilities, all set in attractive grounds. The modern structures include a purpose-built nursery, with strong environmental credentials, and a new multi-purpose astro pitch, to complement the existing sports facilities.

Jacksons Fencing has supplied and installed a range of perimeter fencing and access control at East Wickham Primary School in Kent. The school has over 600 students, with a large site featuring several buildings including classrooms, halls and areas for physical activities. The decision to update their perimeter fencing was part of the school’s aim to provide a safe, happy and welcoming environment for children, staff, parents and visitors.

DAYLIGHT FOR SHOWCASING STUDENT SUCCESSWe have always recognised that daylighting is both an art and a science, which makes it an appropriate focal point for Mahwah High School’s new STEAM Lab. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) approach to education takes an important step in recognising the importance of and integrating the arts into a science-and-technology-geared curriculum. The arts foster creativity and ingenuity that allows for the successful application of other skills.The 9,000-square-foot facility—designed by Tokarski Millemann Architects and fondly nicknamed the “Thunderbird Think Tank” in honour of Mahwah High School’s logo—houses classrooms, indoor and outdoor labs and a gallery to showcase student projects.Tokarski Millemann was looking for the perfect material to use for the art gallery component of the facility. According to principal architect, Michael Millemann, “The vision was to create a ‘cube’ shaped space for the display of the students’ creative works which were previously tucked in a hallway. The material needed to create a beautiful glow from the exterior along with permitting only serene, diffused light to the interior.”Kalwall’s museum-quality daylighting™ delivers full-spectrum, diffuse natural light to allow for high visual acuity and accurate colour rendition within the gallery space. This creates a comfortable, welcoming environment for viewing artwork and other projects or hosting gatherings.A custom blue face sheet was developed to match the school’s logo. The blue is not a coating, but rather full-colour thickness through the entire exterior face, utilising Kalwall’s super-weathering technology. Due to the panel’s power of diffusion, the blue exterior does not affect the quality of light within the space, but it allows for a beautiful, soft glow at night that acts as a marquis for the school. During the day, Kalwall’s best-in-industry solar heat gain control prevents the cube from becoming a hot box and superior thermal performance ensures a comfortable environment all year long while lowering HVAC loads. Combined with daylighting’s ability to reduce reliance on electricity, Kalwall plays a major role in the project’s overall energy efficiency.Cost efficiency is another benefit Kalwall provided. Panels are low maintenance with a self-cleaning surface, meaning normal rainfall helps to keep the exterior free of sediment while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process. The lightweight panel system minimised the need for additional internal structure for a very clean design, while rapid installation kept the project on schedule and on budget.“The Kalwall translucent panels exceeded our vision,” said Millemann. “We worked with Kalwall’s Steve Del Guercio and their team to develop a daylighting and structural strategy, and the custom panel colour. The Kalwall cube anchors the addition to the existing building and is a visual beacon located on axis with the entrance to the campus. Along with the client, we could not be happier with the final product.”The Mahwah High School STEAM lab will be an environment in which students can thrive for generations to come.Photos: Courtesy of Tokarski Millemann Architects

St James’ Catholic High School needed a solution for the corridor that would be durable and easy to clean. The school chose Altro Orchestra flooring and Altro Fortis wall protection.

Boyco worked with Ellis Williams Architects in Warrington to design the ultimate coat & bag storage solution for Barrow Hall Primary School, ensuring maximum storage for each pupil. The contract was awarded to Robertson Construction, and Boyco worked with Robertson's to supply & install the equipment smoothly within the given timescales, to ensure a seamless delivery of the project.

Robust and Functional Acoustic Solution delivered by Colinwell for a Multi-Purpose Hall.The pupils of St Bronagh’s have a long tradition ofchampioning environmental improvement projects. So it was no surprise when d-on architects ltd chose Colinwell's EchoCheck Acoustic Block, which is manufactured from 65% recycled agregates, for the interior of the schools Multi-Purpose Hall.

Project: Catholic elementary school Laurentius, Breda, Netherlands

Project: Secondary school Robert Bosch, Gerlingen, Germany

Metrotile has often stated that their Lightweight Steel Roofing systems can go head to head with ‘traditional’ materials aesthetically, and Gorse Hill School is a fine example of this statement in action.Gorse Hill is unique as it required a partial refurbishment. Some, but not all of the blocks roofs where in urgent need of repair. For these roofs, Metrotile’s classic ‘Roman’ profile was specificied as its contoured design matched the concrete Roman tiles that remained on some of the buildings.The finished product, is a fine example of old meeting new with brilliant results. Another important factor involved with the specification of Metrotile was the need for a secure roofing solution.

Our Glass Lockers with a mixture of three and six compartments filled the changing rooms in Ponteland High School, suitable for both wet and dry envirnoment. Main colours white and blue were used for the locker glass doors, and ABET Laminate colour infills in Spring White and California Blue. The colours and material give a mature feel in the changing rooms in both fitness and leisure areas. Ojmar OTS Basic locks are user friendly and were used for safety and ease. Overall the Ponteland project speaks for it self as it is aesthetically pleasing and provide high quality storage solution.

Project:Staffordshire University Nursery & Forest School Client:Staffordshire University Contractor:Henry Brothers Construction Architect:Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Value:£4.4m Location: Leek Road Site, Stoke-on-Trent GIFA:1,000m2Based on the building fabric targets of Passivhaus standards and utilising the latest green technologies the net-zero purpose built facility provides a full day care nursery with a 24-place classroom and observational suite with leading digital technology. See full details... PROJECT SUMMARY Located close to the University’s nature reserve, this brand new £4.4m carbon neutral facility, brings the forest setting to the University’s city campus. It is not only connected with its landscaped and idyllic surroundings, but also provides inspirational and flexible learning spaces that offer developing children digital experiences too. More than doubling the capacity of the University’s previous nursery premises, the new provision provides 100 full day-care places for children aged from 0 to five. It also has the capacity to provide childcare and education for children from five to 12 years outside of term time. The new nursery provision also incorporates a forest school facility that develops links with local schools and provides community participation opportunities. Single storey with Glulam timber frame, sustainable panelised superstructure solution with timber cladding and an external timber canopy covered walkway for social interaction. The building has a high-performance Innovaré Offsite envelope which is highly energy efficient, with the wider build incorporating measures such as Air Source Heat Pumps, Passive Cooling and roof mounted solar PV. KEY FEATURES IN THE NURSERY AND FOREST SCHOOL: • Four inspirational learning spaces with areas for food preparation and wet play as well as flexible floor space. • An authentic woodland experience for schools, especially those based in the city. • Opportunities to experience countless outdoor learning opportunities such as identifying nature, play-based learning, den building and forest art. • Gain digital experiences to help develop prerequisite skills to support future learning within a fast-paced digital world. • Play and learn in large, landscaped play areas. • Observational suite with leading digital technology to facilitate applied learning for trainee teachers, social workers, and University students. In its first year, Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School was recognised with two awards, Construction Project of the Year in the CEF Awards 2022, and the Sustainability award at West Midlands Insider Property Awards 2022

The Burton Borough School development is a brand new sports hall for Burton Borough School in Newport, Telford. As this building will be used primarily by schoolchildren, it was especially important that it was built using a durable solution which can stand up not only against weather conditions, but is fully non-combustible.Ash & Lacy worked through Kynaston Contract Services with Pave Aways Building Contractors and TACP Architects to deliver for Telford & Wrekin Council a MechSlip façade employing Ibstock’s Himley Ebony Black brick. Developed in conjunction with Ibstock Kevington, MechSlip is a lightweight, mechanically fixed system that offers significant advantages including reduced installation times and associated costs, as well as being classified A1 (non-combustible) to EN 13501-1 fire testing standards by Exova Warringtonfire.This project shows some of the design versatility of MechSlip as well, with the projecting header pattern on the building’s front elevation being achieved by alternating between half bricks and full bricks to create a memorable impression which manipulates shadow well. MechSlip allows specifiers and architects to create distinctive façades thanks to the flexibility of different sizes of brick slips and choice of multiple colours and textures.As well as offering the reassurance provided by a mechanically-fixed design, MechSlip has been rigorously tested to the Centre for Window & Cladding Technology (CWCT) standards, for wind resistance, water tightness and impact resistance. The result is that it eliminates the weather dependency of traditional building methods without compromising on the choice of brick finish.

Rooflights deliver top class performance at new-build educational facilityBrett Martin supplied new-build Tauheedul Islam School with a combination of Marvault vault rooflight systems and Glass Link rooflights meeting no less than 2 design solutions.The Marvaults were installed over the stunning refectory in lengths of more than 15 metres and spans of 2.3 metres, where large continuous runs were needed.These vaults provide the optimum combination of light transmission and UV protection and play a crucial role in reducing demand for electric lighting as well as lowering CO2 emissions and running costs. A series of 8 premium Glass Link rooflights then, which met the requirement for high light transmission and thermal performance, were fitted to flood the multi-sports complex with natural daylight. A laminated inner pane also ensures the safety of those below.Both rooflight systems deliver exceptional levels of daylight into the school optimising internal environment conditions. They play a crucial role in both the aesthetic and thermal performance of the school whilst having a positive impact on students’ wellbeing.

The Sports Hall was built to replace the former gymnasium originally designed by John Francis Bentley, the architect of Westminster Cathedral in 1888. Although the primary function of the hall is for sporting activities, the school needed a hall for exams, general assemblies, presentations, parents' evenings and plays. So DYNAMIK installed several methods to protect the floor when not being used for sport.

We were delighted to be commissioned to provide a complete playground regeneration project, for a prestigious school in Sussex. The current play facilities were starting to feel dates, and the school wanted some fresh, colourful and natural themed equipment and surfacing to reenergise the areas.3 different areas on the site catered to various age groups, and the level of challenge on the equipment reflected this. A mixture of climbing, trim trails, multiplays, a zip wire, and some tall slides will make playtimes fun for many years to come. Equally, the safety surfacing was designed to be colourful and informative, with inlaid graphics featuring windmills and electric charging points on the track helping reinforce the importance of a low carbon future.

St Mary’s School in Calne, Wiltshire, is a leading UK independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18. It was founded in 1873 by local vicar, The Reverend John Duncan, who believed that the daughters of the town’s Anglican families at the time lacked access to a wide-ranging education. The school moved to the current site in 1907 and over the years as the school grew, nearby properties were bought and new buildings were established.Clement Windows Group was chosen to manufacture and install almost 40 new steel windows to replace the original steel windows on the front and gable ends of the Plumer Wing which comprises classrooms for music, computing, Religious Education and art. Windows from the EB20 steel window range were chosen and these were polyester powder coat painted RAL 7016 (Anthracite Grey) instead of white like the original windows.This was the second phase of work for Clement who had previously manufactured the steel windows for the rear elevations of the building. The school acted as the main contractor and CDM lead for the job and Clement was the sole contractor on site. The project was completed to programme and budget during a break from the school term with minimum disruption to the school overall.Bob Lunn, Director of Estates at St Mary’s said “The installation of 83 high quality Clement windows, which were installed in two phases during 2021 and 2022, have significantly enhanced the aesthetics and environmental efficiency of this building. Installation was very efficiently completed by Clement operatives within the specified installation timeframes.”

St Laurence School is a comprehensive academy in the historic Wiltshire town of Bradford on Avon. Find out this new case study - SureSet Natural Aggregate, 10mm Barley Beach, BA15 1DZ

Sound Reduction Systems Ltd (SRS) have installed Class A acoustic absorption panels within Westgate Primary School in Morecambe to treat the problem of excessive reverberation and unsuitable room acoustics.

As competition for schools construction projects remains high and costs are driven down, the need to meet standards of robustness, energy efficiency and acoustic performance become more challenging. At a school for girls, four roofs totalling over 2000m2 required two different finishes, three different build- ups and, crucially, one single Labour and Materials Warrantee to cover all four under our PI Insurance.

Able Canopies were commissioned by Bouygues (UK) Ltd to produce five bespoke canopies at Oaklands School in Tower Hamlets, London. These canopy installations were part of a major Building Schools for Future (BSF) project managed by Bouygues (UK) Ltd to refurbish parts of the school and construct a new building at the site. The canopies were crucial to bringing the whole look and feel of the refurbished site together and so communication, teamwork and painstaking attention to detail were vitally important to ensure a successful installation.

We are delighted to share that our Climate Resilient Schools program in partnership with the Greater London Authority, the Department for Education, and Thames Water, received recognition at the prestigious Flood and Coast Awards. This accolade is a testament to the effectiveness and innovation of our approach to climate resilience. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to London's sustainability goals and support the city's commitment to addressing climate change.At Meristem Design, we are proud to have been awarded the prestigious Climate Resilient Schools contract by the Greater London Authority (GLA). Our mission was to design, build, and install 564 SuDS Rain Planters across London's most flood-prone schools. In collaboration with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the Department for Education, and Thames Water, our aim was to enhance the resilience of these schools in London, ensuring they are better prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change. Through this project, we aimed to create sustainable, climate-resilient environments while educating children on the importance of nature in combatting global warming.FOCUSING ON FLOOD-PRONE SCHOOLSThe Climate Resilient Schools project focuses on schools that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Priority is given to the top 10 percent of schools facing the highest surface water flood risk and falling within the most severe bands of the Climate Risk Map. Flooding can have a devastating impact on schools, as was evidenced in the summer of 2007 when extensive flooding in England led to widespread school closures, resulting in a staggering loss of 400,000 pupil school days and an estimated economic cost of £12 million.Outlined below are the key elements of the program along with a list of participating schools:SuDS Rain Planters: To mitigate flood risk, 72 schools have received 564 Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) rain planters. These planters effectively capture rainwater from rooftops, providing a dual benefit of flood reduction and supporting biodiversity. The feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing satisfaction with their SuDS rain planters. In fact, one enthusiastic Year 2 student, while participating in the planting process, expressed their aspiration to become a gardener in the future.Smarter Business Visits: Thames Water's Smarter Business Visits program offers free assessments to identify leaks and install water-efficient fittings in schools. Measures such as tap restrictors, urinal sensors, and conversion from single-flush to dual-flush toilets have been implemented in 28 schools.Weather Stations and Educational Resources: To monitor the effectiveness of the SuDS rain planters, weather stations with loggers have been installed in 24 schools. This network of weather stations is one of the most extensive in any school system. Further details and data regarding this project can be accessed on the FreeStation website.Climate Adaptation Plans: Bespoke climate adaptation plans have been provided to 60 schools to assist in identifying potential measures for future implementation, aimed at addressing the risks associated with a changing climate and extreme weather events. Each school underwent a survey to determine high-risk areas within their premises, following which appropriate measures and interventions were suggested. Examples of such measures include green roofs or window shading to mitigate overheating. The SuDS planters have proven to be a remarkable success, as they operate autonomously without requiring additional watering. The flourishing plants, nurtured by harvested rainwater, have delighted the children involved in the planting process. As part of the team at Meristem Design, we are proud to have contributed to the fabrication of the SuDS planters and the successful delivery of this project.

With use of the company’s primers, floor smoothing compounds and adhesives, a floorcovering installation at the new Christ Church School in Frome proved to be a master class from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. The subfloors were prepared by applying Stopgap P131 primer, followed by Stopgap Green Bag fast setting smoothing underlayment. Heckmondwike Hippo carpeting was then installed in the entrance area using Styccobond F3 Flooring Adhesive. Flotex carpet was laid in classrooms, secured by Styccobond F44 Acrylic Flooring Adhesive, which was also used to install Altro Walkway vinyl floorcovering in community areas and toilets...

When Whitmore High School in Barry, Wales were undergoing a massive £30.5M transformation that required over 6000m2 of new flooring they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for their specific project needs.The contractor for the project would specify a mix of Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Compact and Comfort flooring, together with their pedigree Taraflex® sports flooring, alongside their world renowned Tarasafe flooring products, together with their Mipolam ESD EL7 dissipative flooring.Steven Birchenough, Project Manager for the Main Contractor Morgan Sindall said, “Gerflor have a wide selection of flooring products to choose from. We needed a single supplier to provide us with the best-in-class flooring for many areas of the facility.”The installation of such prestigious and large flooring project would be the responsibility of CS Flooring, Cardiff. Anthony Mynett, Director, Carpet Services (Cardiff) Ltd commented,” This was a huge project for a new build school installation and the specification of Gerflor products for the vast amount of flooring needed was absolutely the right choice due to the high quality and performance they deliver every time.”

Project: Cranleigh School Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

TigerTurf complete a full-size artificial grass hockey pitch at Warwick School.

Langley Prep School is located at Taverham Hall in the village of Taverham not far from Norwich in the Norfolk countryside. Completed in 1858, the hall was originally planned as the home for the family of Rev’d John Nathaniel Micklethwait. In 1921, the hall was sold and became a boy’s preparatory school. It was briefly requisitioned during the Second World War before returning to its use as an educational establishment.Set amongst 100 acres of green open space, Taverham Hall is a breathtaking neo-Jacobian building with stunning period architecture to match its idyllic setting. The large chimney stacks and red brick frontage create an attractive aesthetic with the subtle grey roofing slates accentuating the property’s distinctive beauty.

A secondary school in West London used EQUITONE [tectiva] fibre cement facade material to create an aesthetically pleasing, natural and modern appearance that pays homage to the nearby Grade I-listed Chiswick House.

Lancaster University School of Mathematics (LUSoM) is a specialist school that will deliver world-class mathematics education for 16 to 18 year-olds.The four-storey building, featuring a rooftop terraced area for students to relax and study, has a unique and iconic look, making it an immediate landmark for people travelling into Preston City Centre.Interpon D2525 Y2217F Steel Bronze 2 was applied to the feature `Zig-Zag` cladding panels supplied by Sotech.

The impact a school provides starts from its outside appearance. This allows the pupils, parents and teachers to maintain a positive attitude about where they study and work creating a positive vibe. This often follows suit internally with design as well as the performance of a school feeling proud to be part of. The choice of material required was initially zinc but we also needed to ensure the product was as light as possible, we therefore proposed Falzinc which is a Zinc coated Aluminium.

At Heathrow Primary School, their mission is to provide a safe, happy, caring and inclusive environment.The Kids Stuff cubicle range was specified in High Pressure Laminate (HPL). It was important that the chosen washroom design was safe, reliable and easy to maintain for the staff. The washrooms included semi-recessed vanity unit to the children’s height which fitted in perfectly with the rest of the project. Read the whole case study on our website.

The merger of two primary schools in south London meant one of the school buildings would be retaining and upgraded to facilitate the combined 380+ students in the 3-11 age range.The newly formed Bird in Bush Primary School is Southwark’s newest school, which has been adapted to accommodate an increased number of children to ensure their needs are met, and that the learning environment is inclusive for all.One of the ways the school was adapted prior to opening for the autumn term was to create the right acoustic conditions inside one of the classrooms for a student with special educational needs (SEN), who was moving from Coburg School. The child’s condition meant that they were more susceptible to the adverse effects of noise resulting from reverberation and echo, which could potentially have an impact on their learning outcomes.The child’s parents felt this was a particularly important issue to address given that their child was entering Year 6, which they believed would be more significant than previous school years and more stressful. The acoustic treatment deployed involved the installation of Hush Absorber 50 sound absorber panels. These products were previously installed in the school's large dining hall to reduce high levels of background noise and echo.The aim was to calculate the current reverberation time (RT), the time taken for the sound pressure level from the original sound to drop by 60dB after it stops, and work out how much absorption would be needed to bring this in line with the requirements of BB93.The solution provided by Hush involved the manufacture and installation of 40x Hush Absorber 50 panels, which were sized 1200 x 600 x 50mm and covered in a fabric coloured in a neutral tone to blend seamlessly with the classroom’s main colour. These were fitted onto the soffit of the classroom’s sloping ceiling which was important to ensure the walls could continue to be used for notice boards and other displays.Prior to their installation, the RT was measured at 3.8s and following the upgrade the reduction in reverberation is evident in the fact that this figure is now 0.8s. This was the lowest figure possible given the available space for the sound absorber panels on the soffit.Disruption to teaching was completely avoided because the Hush Absorber 50 panels were fitted in just one day during the summer holiday closure of the school.

Avanti Fields School in Leicester is using bespoke manufactured external wall linings from the Pendock Linea range to add colour and style to the main entrance of the new build school, which was completed in 2021 by BAM Construction.Each of the 10 wall linings incorporates a unique design, which is applied using digital printing onto highly durable compact laminate panels, which were installed to the architect’s specification by Pendock’s specialist installation team.