SCALA Civic Building of the Year Competition, 2004
Commended
Suffolk County Council
Hadleigh
Beaumont Community Primary School
This project provides accommodation for 140 pupils aged 5-11 years, and includes a nursery unit for 25 pupils. It has been designed for sustainability and includes many environmental and energy saving features. The Energy Practice Ltd were consulted at an early stage to bring a wider knowledge of energy conscious design to the project.
The building comprises a prefabricated timber frame with a breathable external wall highly insulated with a recycled newspaper product. The external cladding is untreated western red cedar with a natural resistance to rot and insect attack.
Part of the roof is covered in a living sedum blanket which requires little maintenance, aids summer cooling, provides winter insulation, protects the roof covering and reduces the impact of heavy rain on the drainage system. Other parts of the roof collect rainwater which is filtered and used to flush toilets.
A 6kW wind turbine and an array of solar collectors and PV cells contribute to the electrical and heating demands of the building.
The energy efficiency measures should reduce emissions to the atmosphere by about eight tonnes of carbon dioxide p.a. compared to a conventional school of the same size, a fact acknowledged by the award of the very first merit certificate for carbon reduction on 15th November 2003.
All energy and water usage is monitored electronically and the results displayed on a touch sensitive screen in the main entrance foyer for children and adults to interrogate.
Building Design: Suffolk County Council Property Division Design Group
Electrical Engineer: Suffolk County Council Property Division Design Group
Structural Engineer: MLM Consulting Engineers
Partnering Adviser: W S Atkins
Sustainability Advice: The Energy Practice Ltd
Mechanical Design: The Energy Practice Ltd
Landscape Design:Suffolk County Council Property Division Design Group
Main Contractor: Barnes Construction Ltd
Timber Frame Design and Construction: Timber Frame Solutions
Electrical Contractor: North Essex Electrical
Mechanical Contractor: H Warner & Son Ltd
Ground Works Contractor: Breheney
