Robinson Architects - Mixed-Use General - Manchester, Environmental Design for UK Schools
Date: 23 Oct 2006
Sustainability is now on the agenda for school buildings. Multi-million pound investments in the UK's Primary Schools are transforming the education landscape for the future.
Employing the latest building techniques, environmentally sound design and innovative use of materials are transforming outdated school buildings into energy and money saving havens.
The first of these new high quality primary school buildings, and the benchmark against which others will be measured, is the £4.6 million Green End Primary school in Manchester, designed by Robinson Architects, part of the Robinson Design Group.
Major design innovations at Green End Primary School include sophisticated insulation of the building together with an under floor heating system and natural passive ventilation.
Natural light also plays a vital part in the design, from full height classroom windows to a fully glazed atrium, allowing the external environment into the building, which allows lighting to be turned off for long periods, saving energy and reducing C02 emissions. The introduction of 'dynamic lighting' enhances the teaching environment within the classrooms with Green End being one of the first schools to use this technology.
The system of automatically opening windows in the atrium operates through a 'stack effect' so a natural ventilation system allows air to circulate through classrooms, just by opening windows and louvers. Even rainwater from the roofs is stored and recycled to the toilet cisterns.
Studies in America have shown that schools incorporating passive solar features, such as "daylighting", which use less energy, student grades have improved, and attendance is higher. In addition a study conducted by the Alberta Department of Energy in Canada, found that students benefited significantly from attending schools where daylight, rather than traditional artificial lighting was the principal source of internal lighting. The study found that where daylighting was prevalent, schools exhibited among other things: reduced absenteeism by 3.5 days per year, increased concentration levels, better scholastic performance and more positive moods, induced by natural light.
Alan Soper Managing Director of Robinson Architects, says "This was a ground breaking project for us to design, and were very aware of the exacting nature it required, and its financial constraints. Working closely with contractors Willmott Dixon we ensured that the school was brought in on plan and ready for the staff and pupils to start seeing the benefits of sustainability functioning for the first time."
Bernard Core, Framework One Manager, part of Manchester City Council, says: "Green End School is the first new school building to be delivered via Framework One. The innovative design, sustainable features and state of the art ICT [Information and Computer Technology] facilities are a result of successful partnering between the key stakeholders and will enhance delivery of quality learning for the pupils and local community"
Robinson Architects is also responsible for the All Saints Primary School in Bradford which is currently undergoing similar reconstruction work at a cost of £4.45 million.
The Atrium at Green End School, Manchester
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