Thinking Green:Layout 1 11/09/2009 14:29 Page 62
thinking green
New building aims to reduce the reliance on “over
complicated” building services.
Eco Centre to take
teaching back to nature
Students at Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland have worked with architects
Space Group on the design of a zero carbon Eco Centre.
A
GROUP OF sixth form students and will encompass, photovoltaic panels, for outdoor learning.
attending agricultural courses in old solar water heating, a small scale wind Aluminium, wood panelling and glass will
buildings, decided to undertake a turbine, a biomass boiler to serve the feature heavily in the design, with
feasibility study to create new classrooms existing school, and an air sourced heat sophisticated double glazing ensuring heat
within a new Eco Centre.With the help of pump for the new Eco Centre. loss is minimised and overheating prevented.
the council, £1m funding from the DCSF Space Group project lead Keith Handy A sedum roof over the larger
has been secured. Half of the money will told edb: “The use of renewable classroom will reduce the surface water
fund the new Eco centre and the other technologies incorporated into both the run-off into the existing sewers prevent
half will be spent on improving the energy new and existing buildings will be the need for drainage systems, while
performance and carbon footprint of the monitored in great detail to appreciate water flowing from the other large roof
existing school – a typical 1960s flat the benefits in both energy usage and will be utilised on the allotment gardens
roofed building. carbon reductions that can be achieved. through a simple irrigation system.
The school has around 700 pupils, 60 “Our design philosophy for the Eco
of whom are boarders. The new centre will Centre incorporates the key elements of
www.spacegrouparchitects.com
include a flexible science lab, greenhouses Passivhaus principles, this is a sustainable
and land for horticultural needs to deliver design philosophy, which focuses on both
agricultural, sustainability and minimising heat loss through the building www.gb-building.co.uk
environmental education. fabric and maximising heat gains by both
A planning application will be presented the environment and internal usage.
to Northumberland County Council this “This reduces the reliance on over
month and, if approval is granted, Space complicated, building services and exploits
Group will work with constructor GB basic good practice design principles, for
Building Solutions as part of the example, orientation, fenestration,
Northumberland Council Framework. building envelope and air tightness.”
The structure will be centred around
Renewable energy two rooms – a science lab and a general
The renewable energy measures will apply classroom – and will also feature a ‘break-
to the Eco centre and the existing school, out’ centre space and external sections
62 edbmagazine.co.uk
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92