BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
EDUCATION RAY OF LIGHT
AS NORFOLK’S FIRST
ACADEMY STARTS ON SITE
orfolk’s first Academy, the teaching departments. the Norwich Open Academy continues:
N
Sheppard Robson designed The Academy will also include a “The BSF programme focuses on creating
Norwich Open Academy, biomass boiler which will burn wood chips radical improvements in educational
has started on site. The BSF or pellets; zoned heating for when only outcomes and raising educational
funded project has survived parts of the building are in use; movement achievement. This influenced our design
the numerous financial constraints to beset and daylight sensitive light and water for the School’s form and function; a fully
the education sector, offering a timely saving controls; rainwater harvesting and integrated environment to encourage
boost for Schools and Colleges across the solar thermal water heating. transformational opportunities for
United Kingdom. Gavin Robinson, associate at educational development. The fact this will
Kier Education is developing the Sheppard Robson, is pleased to see his also be one the most sustainable
£20m scheme for Norfolk County Council, team starting on site: “Getting on site at Academy’s in the country has helped to
along with support from two sponsors – the Norfolk Academy has given everyone realise the projects construction.”
local businessman Graham Dacre and in our team a huge boost. This is a BSF The 73-week first phase is due for
the Rt Rev Graham James, the Bishop funded project that has gone ahead in completion in September 2010 when
of Norwich. spite of the economic downturn – a students will decant from the existing
The 9,000m² Academy will specialise positive sign and hopefully one to help school, which will then be demolished as
in engineering and the environment, revitalise the education sector. We are part of the second phase landscaping.
reflected in Sheppard Robson’s highly excited about demonstrating the vast This will also include further environmental
sustainable design. The heart of the potential of sustainable design through the measures such as the creation of a pond
scheme is a KLH cross-laminated timber use of timber based construction” and external classrooms.
structural system that will significantly Sophie Campbell, project leader for www.sheppardrobson.com
reduce the buildings carbon footprint.
Prefabrication will also minimise erection
time and wastage, saving an estimated
3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide,
equivalent to 12.5 million car miles.
The curved plan of the main building
was considered as a series of concentric
bands: the outer perimeter houses the
main teaching and learning
accommodation to maximise the potential
for natural daylight, views and ventilation;
the inner band provides the main
circulation route, stacked as a series of
open balconies that wrap around the
central Open Forum. The simple and
efficient plan creates opportunities for
active engagement between different
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SUSTAINABLE FM | MAY 2009
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