Environmentally Friendly Materials
introduction
School built completely out of timber, using an offsite timber panel system and assembled in one week in 2007. The school is one twentieth the size of a typical school and is designed to demonstrate a quick build, commercially viable, affordable and ecological solution to the Building Schools for the Future programme.
description
Designed by Eurban, the shell is made of Lenotec; a highly airtight panel, made of strips of waste wood off-cuts and glue. The panels are self-supporting in two directions, require no additional framework and are used as load-bearing walls. Also used are Glulam beams and columns where there is a large expanse of glazing. The building, can be built up to 10 storeys high and is fixed to screw-pile foundations, which need no concrete and can be easily uprooted.
Photovoltaics, solar thermal and wind technologies have also been included. Insulation is achieved through wood fibre coated in a secondary waterproofing layer of paraffin wax, and battens, onto which cladding is affixed
project team
Architect is White Design, Bristol, timber specialist is Eurban
further information
eurban.co.uk/projects_schools_bre.php
eurban.co.uk/press/BRE/Building_Materials_Carbon_Indicator_Case_Study.pdf
environmental benefits
The high use of timber as a building material has resulted in the school having a very low carbon footprint, and reduced the carbon intensity of the building (the ratio of Carbon Dioxide to energy) by 55.7 tonnes of CO2.