SCALA Civic Building of the Year Competition, 2008

Joint Winner

Sheffield City Council
Sharrow Primary School

This 420 place 2FE primary school with a 52 place nursery and a 30 place Early Years Centre amalgamates two local schools on the very tight site of the original infant school adjacent to a park.

The entrance from the park leads to an informal reception area with a sculptural reception desk made by artist Andrew Skelton from glulam beams salvaged from the infants school. A central atrium dispenses with corridors and with open-plan double class bases, shared terrace areas and toilets in the classroom, supports mature pupil behaviour and flexible learning. Accessible and flowing spaces connect to provide equitable and barrier free access throughout the three floors

Environmental education is promoted by resources such as the biodiversity teaching terrace, allotment garden and orchard complementing the terrace areas. The 1,200m2 bio diverse roof was developed in partnership with HSBC, the Green Roof Centre, University of Sheffield and the 100 volunteers who participated in the installation.

Reduced energy use is achieved using good insulation levels, air-tightness and a ground source heat pump for space and water heating and summer cooling. Heat from 21 boreholes gives a 51 per cent predicted reduction in the amount of carbon produced (against gas), giving an annual saving of 39,110kg. This is supported by natural ventilation from passive stack ventilators and the atrium, as well as water conservation methods including rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing.

Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, Landscape Architect, Special Consultant:

Sheffield Design and Project Management

Main Contractor:

Kier Sheffield LLP