RSPB Environment and Education Centre, Rainham
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Centre facade showing light towers
Jason Orton (website) Download Original
Environment and Education centre for the RSPB at Rainham Marshes, designed to meet high environmental standards
The client required a new education centre situated on protected marsh land in Purfleet. This included provision of a reception and cafe area with good views across the marshes and education, kitchen, office and meeting spaces.
The building’s unusual form and striking façade contrast with the surroundings, creating a distinctive addition to this important wetland area.
The Centre has achieved BREEAM Excellent certification and its environmental design features, such as a ground source heat exchange pump, photovoltaic cells and a rainwater harvesting tank, embody the client’s commitment to sustainable development, while also creating a benchmark for development in the Thames Gateway area.
Data
- Begun: Aug 2005
- Completed: Jun 2006
- Floor area: 546m2
- Sector: Education
- Total cost: £2.2M
- Tender date: Jan 2005
- Procurement: JCT98 with contractor's designed portion supplements
- Address: New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet, RM19 1SZ, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: van Heyningen and Haward Architects
- Project architects: Birkin Haward, Claudia Murin, Dana Haqjoo, Elizabeth Wilson, Harry Paticas, Henry Binns, James Gallie, Jessica Reynolds, John Bell, Loretta Gentilini McGregor, Luke Richardson
- Client: RSPB
- Environmental consultant: Max Fordham
- Structural engineer: Price and Myers
- Quantity surveyor: Trogal Griffin Associates
- Planning supervisor: PCM Safety Management
- Approved building inspector : BYL
- Access consultant: Ann Sawyer
- Main contractor: Haymills
- Civil engineer: BTP Hyder
- Landscape consultant: BTP Hyder
Suppliers
- Piling: Stent
- Groundwords and Superstructure: Knightbuild
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: Warners
- Sewage Treatment Specialist Contractor: Alphaeus
- Bridges and Drawbridges: Littlehampton Welding
- Ventilation cones: Vision
- Photovoltaic consultant: Solarcentury
- Roof: Firestone
- Metalwork: Barnfield
- Lift: Gartec
- Security Shutter Mechanism: Coburn
- Rooflights: Duplus
- Windows and Glazed doors: Scandinavian Window System
- Solid Core doors: Leaderflush Shapland
- Ironmongery: Allgood
- Door Automation: Dorma
- Door and Rodd Insulation: Kingspan
- Wall Insulation: Rockwool
- Acoustic Insulation: Melatech
- Breather Membrane: Tyvek
- Tanking: RIW
- External Surfaces: Colas
- Fencing: Jacksons
- Blockwork: Plascon
- Weatherboarding Paint: Akzo
- Tiling: Ariostea Marmi
- Carpet: Interface
- Sanitaryware: Armitage, Ifo Cero
- Plasterboard Ceilings: British Gypsum
- Photovoltaics Panels: Sanyo
- Ground Source Heat Pump: Viessmann
- Geothermal Borehole Heat Exchanger: Groenholland
- Rainwater System: Rainharvesting Systems