12
APPOINTMENTS & NEWS
Houlton School, Rugby
© James Brittain / vHH
A
unique
and
innovative
Soprema
insulation specifi cation provided a durable and robust solution to bring a historic landmark to life and create a state-of-the-art secondary school for pupils in Rugby, Warwickshire.
The project
Soprema has helped to restore a Grade II Listed former radio station building in Rugby and transform it into a sustainable, distinctive and state-of-the-art secondary school. Houlton School,
to commemorate the fi rst transatlantic call made from the radio station, which was to a receiver site in Houlton, Maine, in 1927. With a vision to address the shortage of secondary school places and revitalise the listed building at the heart of Houlton, U&C undertook the monumental task of restoring the former radio station building, which dates back to 1925, and create a state-of-the- art secondary school on its site.
located within the
former Rugby Radio Station, has emerged as a critical component in the establishment of a thriving new community. It is part of the Houlton development, which will see developer Urban & Civic (U&C) deliver 6,200 homes alongside neighbourhood and community facilities.
The Grade II-listed transmitter building, formerly known as C Station, sits at the heart of a developing mini-town, named Houlton
The new educational campus at Houlton School includes a main teaching block with a grand entrance and dining hall within the listed former power hall, capable of accommodating more than 1,000 students. In addition, two separate blocks were constructed for STEM and Humanities subjects, along with a Sport England compliant sports hall with dance, acting and fi tness studios. It also features a new communications centre, fully resourced with a library and professional radio and television broadcasting station in homage to the legacy of the site.
Challenges and objectives
The initial plan was to demolish the historic Rugby Radio Station to make way for the residential development.
© vHH
recognising the need for a secondary school in the area, developer U&C approached the Department for Education (DfE) to secure funding and repurpose the radio station
ADF09_Soprema_Insulation_Double Page Spread
Advertorial.indd 2 However,
as a school. This bold proposal required overcoming several challenges, including the preservation of the listed building, industrial space constraints, contamination issues and insulation challenges.
Innovative solutions and collaboration U&C and the design team, led by architects van Heyningen and Haward (vHH), worked closely with Morgan Sindall Construction, appointed under an PCSA from RIBA Stage 2, and their specialist supply chain to address the project’s complexity. By involving the supply chain,
which included Soprema,
during the design phase, all parties were able to mitigate risks and engage in value engineering exercises. Careful pre-application negotiations and intrusive examinations before the listed building consent applications were submitted ensured compliance with the DfE’s standard output specifi cation, balancing the preservation of the historic fabric with the requirements of a modern educational facility. The design of Houlton School prioritised a
fabric-fi rst approach, focusing on the building envelope’s quality and energy effi ciency. The integration of Passivhaus software and thermal modelling enabled optimised insulation and improved performance. vHH specifi ed Soprema’s PAVADRY insulation solution - a natural and ecological,
04/09/2023 10:32
WWW.BUILDINGCONSTRUCTIONDESIGN.CO.UK
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