The new building that forms part of the refurbishment of Wexham Court Primary School is due to start on-site tomorrow, and both the design team and the contractor have been working together to provide a building that is sustainable: socially, economically and environmentally. As a part of this, the new building will be assessed under BREEAM, which is an environmental assessment method used for new buildings. Related to this, please find below some information that relates to the new building.
BREEAM Man 9 – Publication of Building Information
Project Description - Single storey extension with new foyer and main entrance to Wexham Court Primary School, Slough, to form a third form of entry; including the refurbishment of the existing building and the provision of additional staff / visitor parking, modified hard-play areas and a new multi-use games area.
BREEAM Rating and Score - Very Good, 63.6
The Key Innovative and Low-Impact Design Features of the Building - The design will emphasise the importance of the School as a landmark in its wider community, and so the project aims to be sustainable, maximising the use of daylighting and natural ventilation to provide a bright and healthy environment for the building users. Sustainable and responsibly sourced materials will be used - including timber, brickwork and a lightweight aluminium roof. The external building envelope will be thermally efficient, achieving U-values that exceed the Building Regulations. A 10% carbon reduction will be achieved through the use of low carbon technologies, and low water usage sanitary ware will be installed throughout.
Basic Building Cost - £1,675 / m2
Services Costs - £684 / m2
External Works Cost - £225 / m2
Gross Floor Area - 1,036 m2
Total Area of Site - 3.3278 ha
Function Areas and their Sizes - Teaching 585 m2, Group Rooms 70 m2, Admin. 45 m2; Total 700 m2
Area of Circulation - 120 m2
Area of Storage - 45 m2
% Area of Grounds to be used by the Community - N/A
% Area of Buildings to be used by the Community - N/A
Predicted Electricity Consumption - 32.71 kWh/m2
Predicted Fossil Fuel Consumption - 58.88 kWh/m2
Predicted Renewable Energy Generation - The proposed CHP Engine will reduce the new building’s carbon dioxide emissions by 11.5% when compared to a conventional system using gas fired condensing boilers.
Predicted Water Use - 2.85 m3 / person / school year
% Predicted Water Use to be provided
by Rainwater or Grey-water - N/A
Steps Taken during the Construction Process to Reduce Environmental Impacts -
Innovative construction management techniques will ensure that the contractor achieves ambitious targets under the Considerate Contractors Scheme. Where possible, recycled materials and responsible sourcing will be standard practice throughout the project and a site waste management plan will be implemented. Accurate measurement of materials will also minimise waste. Further, all electrical equipment and heaters will be turned off when not required and the idling time for construction plant will be minimised; reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Social or Economically Sustainable Measures Achieved/Piloted -
The project embraces a holistic approach to sustainability that goes beyond green materials and reducing carbon emissions. The construction process will be used as a learning resource for the school, feeding into curriculum lessons and the project is seen as a landmark in the wider community, offering the potential for wider integration as a key measure of sustainability. Low carbon technology and a thermally efficient building envelope will result in lower running costs when compared with a building of conventional construction. Provision for on-site cyclist facilities and the development of a site-specific Travel Policy will also reduce CO2 emissions associated with transport.
