Westborough Primary School

The focus of the project is the school’s Edwardian redbrick main building. The buildings have been re-ordered and modernised to meet current academic requirements, with improved insulation and acoustic lining in the hall. The main school entrance was redesigned to accommodate a new reception and waiting area with improved access.

New playground cabins can be used for both play and storage and a canopy along the back of the school provides a circulation route that supports photovoltaic panels. Biomass heating was also implemented as a green renewable energy and monitors around the school display energy use and carbon emissions.

The refurbishment provides a holistic strategy that aims to reduce carbon emissions and act as a test-case for refurbishing older school buildings in a sustainable manner.

Understanding the carbon footprint of the existing condition was used as basis for all strategic interventions to the fabric of the school. Lean (supply demands efficiently) and mean (reduce all energy demands) strategies where implemented setting the target for a 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions for the newly refurbished areas of the school.