Eco Factor: College to be made from wood gathered from sustainably managed forests.
Designer Sheppard Robson was given a challenge to design a new school within the footprint of a fully operational one without provisions for temporary accommodation. He responded with a design that would reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent. The design replaces concrete and steel with sustainable wood gathered from sustainably managed forests.
The timber structure has less embodied carbon than steel and concrete, creates less waste and brings down the construction cost owing to the high prices of steel. The school has been divided into three pastoral bases, which are expressed as individual learning communities. The internal areas are designed to be open to let in light and air, which reduces the amount of energy needed to run the building. The school’s 12,925-square meter surface area would provide space for 1500 children and 172 teaching staff members. Construction is expected to start next year, to be completed by the end of 2011.
The Dark Side:
The use of wood would reduce construction cost but will make the building more vulnerable to fire and extreme heat.
