CA White
The Kingsmead School for Cheshire County Council
White, CA
Authors
Citation
White, C. (2004). The Kingsmead School for Cheshire County Council
| Other Type | Other |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | Jan 1, 2004 |
| Peer Reviewed | Not Peer Reviewed |
| Keywords | Kingsmead School, Cheshire County Council |
| Additional Information | Additional Information : White was principal designer for Kingsmead Primary School for Cheshire County Council which set out to be an exemplar of sustainable design, construction and performance. It was also however conceived as a means of teaching and learning for both pupils and teachers ? in support of the UK Government ?Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills'. This ethos was fundamental to the overall design including orientation on site, natural and recycled materials and the use of natural ventilation and day lighting techniques and the landscape concept. Opened in September 2004, the building itself incorporates super-insulated materials, natural venting, rainwater harvesting and a ?sustainable urban drainage system'. Energy and heating are provided photovoltaics and solar hot-water panels and a bio-mass boiler heating system. Teaching staff have modified the curriculum to use the building itself as a teaching and learning tool. Pupils can access the building management system and monitor classroom temperature, rainwater recycling, energy and water use and a number of features of the building such as visible rain-water harvesting have been designed to link with curriculum. It was shortlisted for the 2005 Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award and according to the Judges is ?a striking design which deploys timber to good effect, and with a bold canopy roof structure. A warm learning environment'. The DCSF described it as ?and exemplar of sustainable design and construction' and it achieved the highest post-occupancy evaluation score in an independent survey commissioned by DCSF. It also won ?Best Small Building' and ?Best Practice Award' in the British Construction Industry Awards, the 2005 Quality in Construction Award, Facility of Building Design Award, and is a Constructing Excellence ?Demonstration Project'. The Kingsmead project has led to a series of further commissions for primary schools in England and Wales. |