Lauriston School
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Eco-friendly extension to double the size of a small primary school on an urban site in Hackney, east London
The school has a colourfully clad facade, which was developed by school as part of the collaborative building process. The administration block follows the road to the north of the site and a spine of classrooms run south from this building.
Construction throughout is mass cross-laminated timber, an Austrian extension of glulam (KLH) involving multiple layers of softwood in prefabricated panels that can span substantial lengths to serve as roof or floor. It is a sustainable material involving 920 tonnes of sequestered carbon, and it also allowed quick, relatively clean assembly, an important consideration as the school was in use throughout the build.
Heating is by underfloor pipes, partly fed by a ground-source heat pump with a 100-metre sump, but also with a conventional back up. When the building is in use the children warm it, and ventilation becomes the problem, exacerbated by build-up of carbon dioxide.
Ceiling heights of up to four metres combined with tall windows reduce dependence on electricity. Water usage has been restricted as far as possible by time-sensor taps, low-consumption fittings, and automatic shut-off in case of leaks. A separate source of cooled drinking water is supplied at every classroom sink.
Data
- Begun: Jul 2007
- Completed: Aug 2010
- Floor area: 2,672m2
- Sector: Education
- Total cost: £7.4M
- Procurement: PPC 2000 Partnering
- CO2 Emissions: 20.11kg/m2/year
- Address: Lauriston School, Rutland Road, London, E9 7JS, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Meadowcroft Griffin Architects
- Client: The Learning Trust Hackney for the London Borough of Hackney
- Structural engineer: Price & Myers
- M&E consultant: Atelier Ten
- Quantity surveyor: Robert Martell & Partners
- Landscape consultant: Latz + Partner
- Acoustic consultant: Paul Gillieron Acoustic Design
- Fire consultant: Kingfell Consulting
- Project manager: Robert Martell & Partners
- Main contractor: Neilcott Construction
- CDM coordinator: Robert Martell & Partners
- Approved building inspector : Approved Inspector Services
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