Sustainability options broadening scope of education designs
Craig Tatton, Chief Operating Officer at Tilbury Douglas, discusses how the complex sustainability requirements are driving the evolution of modern school designs.
Environmental awareness has increased in all areas of modern life. Our understanding of global climate change, as well as the significance of local environments, in terms of our own individual health and wellbeing, is key. This is no different within the education sector.
Across the wider construction industry, this has been well recognised and there have been many new standards devised and implemented that aim to reduce our global impact and improve local environments. These include Net Carbon Zero in Operation, reducing embodied carbon, Biophilic design solutions and WELL Building standards – to name just a few.
The Government Playbook in particular has pushed the carbon agenda, and this is well evidenced in the education sector through the Department for Education’s (DfE) drive to deliver ultra-low carbon buildings.
Therefore, the future of how we construct schools sustainably, in a technical way, has developed considerably. A decade ago, designing a school building was fairly standard but now we are fortunate to have many options to incorporate to ensure the schools are sustainable for the long term – not only in terms of the improving the global environment from a carbon perspective, but also for the local environment for pupils, teachers and staff who will use them daily.
Embodied carbon
Following the implementation of the DfE’s CF21 construction framework, new schools have been built to be net zero carbon in operation, with buildings becoming more energy efficient, minimising their energy needs and operational carbon emissions.
However, with any building work to improve energy efficiency, there is an embodied carbon “cost” and there is now an increased focus on this. Embodied carbon arises from the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication and installation of products during the construction of a building.
Options to choose from
There are many different standards and options to choose from when designing a school to ensure we deliver the most compliant building with the most efficient solutions. This means optioneering from the many new technologies to ensure the building works well into the future.
The DfE CF21 framework sets challenging targets for achieving net carbon zero in operation at handover, measuring embodied carbon, providing naturally ventilated learning environments, low energy infrastructure and improved sustainable and biodiverse school estates.
These are achieved through the design and implementation of heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, natural cross flow ventilation with heat recovery, use of natural daylight, bio-solar green roofs with wildflower mix grasses, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and provision of EV charging points. The building fabric is designed to minimise heat loss and to minimise embodied carbon. Timber construction approaches are being further developed to include Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), Cross Laminated Timber and glulam structural components.
The Fabric First approach designs out the need for active equipment as far as possible by exploiting passive opportunities presented by the building and its immediate microclimate including orientation, air permeability, thermal mass, exploiting heat gain and reducing heat loss. The end result is a much leaner building that minimises energy use and ultimately operational carbon.
The industry is evolving rapidly to understand and implement these new construction techniques.
Real life examples
We are currently building many schools which utilise different green features. Some examples include St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, which will be the UK’s first purpose built biophilic primary school, as part of a pilot scheme for the DfE. Biophilia means it will focus on connecting those inside the building with nature and increase biodiversity through its design. The building is using a SIPs system: an interlocking, load bearing system that is manufactured off site and guarantees performance in terms of thermal insulation, fire safety and acoustics.
We are also in the process of delivering Kingsway School in Rochdale, which is net zero carbon in operation. To achieve this, the new build block, on an existing school site, has green elements comprising natural ventilation, a green roof and solar PV.
In addition, we are constructing Wednesfield Technology Primary School, which is a Passivhaus project with building performance at its heart, including using a range of sustainable, low embodied carbon materials. The new school will also be constructed using a SIPs design.
Technology to drive sustainability
Over the last two years, Tilbury Douglas has invested more than £5m in technology, security and digital processes to maintain our position as a leading construction innovator. Tilbury Douglas’ Connect Configurator is a web-based application for smarter and more efficient digital modelling of designs using standardised layouts and “kit of parts” building components. Our Configurator Connect won the 2023 Construction News Company Innovation of the Year Award for its ability to influence early concept designs and inform carbon decision making.
Our digital models create more information and accurate detail earlier in projects, giving our clients data at their fingertips. This way, clients can see live embodied, operational, and whole life carbon estimates, as well as time and cost implications of different construction options as the design progresses.
Our innovative and forward-thinking approach was recognised last year by Education Estates, when we were named Contractor of the Year.