Q&A: KARL STOKES Q&A: Karl Stokes
planning departments have made the application process more challenging and lengthier.
And what have been the biggest opportunities? Expanding schools need more space and they are increasingly looking for something which adds real value to the site without being disruptive or breaking the bank. Along with a heightened interest in sustainability, this has meant many school leaders are able to be more imaginative in the way they build their new spaces.
I
n the latest in our ongoing series of conversations with selected suppliers to the
education sector, this month we’re delighted to speak to KARL STOKES, MD at TG Escapes Eco-Buildings, who discusses the nature of the business, the challenges ahead, and what net zero will mean for us all.
Tell us about your company, products and services TG Escapes design and build timber frame eco- buildings that are net-zero in operation using sustainable materials for low environmental impact. We follow biophilic design principals and our floor to ceiling windows and doors and covered walkways help connect students and staff to nature. We specialise in education providing bespoke classrooms, sports facilities, studios and training centres from early years to higher education. We use an offsite modular process which saves time and money.
What are the biggest changes you have seen in your business over the last 10 years? The scale of the projects we are delivering has increased 10 fold. In our early days we were often providing single or double classrooms to primary schools. Now though, as the popularity of offsite construction has grown and the benefits of timber construction better understood, our largest project houses 600 hundred students and we have provided schemes for whole schools.
What are the next big steps for you and the team? We are on a journey to becoming a net-zero business and we can offer whole life carbon neutral buildings, comprising low carbon materials and 100% on site renewable energy. We are working with the Carbon Trust to build a tool to independently measure this in a way that it can be certified to the international carbon neutral standard PAS2060.
What have been the biggest challenges the education procurement industry has faced over the past 12 months? In the area of construction, the planning process has been the biggest challenge. Under-resourced
November 2021
www.education-today.co.uk 5
What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market going forward? The role that building design plays in our overall well-being will be a driving force. Designers are looking to produce spaces that help connect them to the outdoors, providing natural light and big views of the world outside. Plus of course, the drive to net zero.
What technology is going to have the biggest impact on the market this coming year? For us it’s all about renewable energy. Our basic structures are built, as far as possible, with sustainable natural materials, using passive principles and are already highly energy efficient. However, as the cost of renewable energy production and storage comes down it will become far easier for schools to afford a net-zero building. This will mean the ongoing energy budget can be re-allocated to educational resources.
One thing the pandemic has taught us is that fresh air is vitally important in minimising the risk of infection – how do your buildings reflect this? Our designs utilise active ventilation and air source heat pumps. Heating and cooling are important in maintaining a comfortable environment, together with the provision of good air quality and the removal of pollutants. It is especially important in maintaining CO2 levels to below 1,500ppm in order to optimise cognitive function. The active ventilation mixes air from inside and out in varying proportions depending
on the seasons removing CO2 when the levels rise. Research shows us that better air quality improves student attendance, performance and health.
What is the driving factor behind your company’s success? Those of us who have been with the business from the beginning remember it always having a family feel to it. We have grown at a manageable pace which has meant that the team has generally grown from within. We always do our best to provide an outstanding customer experience and usually deliver our buildings on time and always in budget. Most of our business comes from return customers or recommendations which is testament to the quality of our team.
In 2023 we’ll all be talking about…? Of course, the drive to net zero… however I fear we will still be talking about the deteriorating mental well-being of our society. My hope is that a greater appreciation of the environment and the natural world will help our young people to maintain a balance so they can be better able to juggle the challenges of modern life.
For more information, about TG Escapes and case studies
visituwww.tgescapes.co.uk emailuinfo@tgescapes.co.uk or callu0800 917 7726
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
