sector
Education
client
Lawrence Sheriff School
location
Warwickshire
Improving student experiences with a sustainable build for future generations
01
Sustainability integrated
Sustainability is a key factor in NZP’s work however taking care to insure as smooth integration in to existing buildings is paramount hence the use of a combination of traditional brick with cedar-clad façades to match the rest of the site.
02
Highly insulated & airtight
The structural panels used in this project offered a tight air seal and allowed for better control over indoor air quality. Reducing air permeability down to an optimal 1m3/hr
03
Time saving solution
Due to the panels being manufactured offsite it is made possible to also install a majority of fittings and fenestrations such as in this project a majority of the windows were installed within the manufacturing process before arriving to site. Therefore, dramatically reducing construction time.
About the project
Lawrence Sheriff School has a long-standing and esteemed history, which meant any building work undertaken had to consider and complement this.
To match the growing demand and accommodate a higher population of students, the establishment required a bespoke extension to boost teaching capacity and enable more students to receive an excellent education.
Providing a low carbon, high-performance and sustainable solution, the 346m2 project will support the school in delivering outstanding teaching services for decades to come.
Smooth integration for first-class education
Taking care to respect the existing school environment, Net Zero Panels built an expansion that incorporated a combination of traditional brick with cedar-clad façades. NZP also provided a structural panel system with a factory-fitted drylined service zone.
Reducing education’s footprint
Like other NZP projects, sustainability was high on the agenda for Lawrence Sheriff School. In large part, this was achieved through the offsite manufacturing of the building’s components which reduced the project’s embodied and Wholelife Carbon of the building through adopting load bearing panel systems as a MMC solution. The NZP panel is lighter in weight which resulted in a leaner substructure and as the materials in the ground are concrete this will create a reduction in the project’s carbon emissions.
Due to the large spans of the building, NZP worked alongside contractors Net Zero Buildings, to produce a primary, hot-rolled, steel frame for the structural element of the design. X-Guard Structural panels were then installed to create a highly insulated timber panel system that halves the tonnage of embodied carbon when compared to our Light Gauge steel panels.
These structural panels provide a high performance, with a thermal envelope that gave a tight air seal and allowed for better control over indoor air quality. Air permeability is responsible for up to 40% of heat loss in a building so it is significant that NZP’s panels reduce air permeability down to an optimal 1m3/hr.
X-Guard Structural panels matched the client’s needs, ensuring the extension was built efficiently while providing all the necessary sustainability elements within the shorter timeframe. To save even more time, the majority of the windows were installed offsite. As a result of the development, Lawrence Sheriff has added significant space, which will adapt as needs change over time, but is currently configured to provide:
- Additional science classrooms
- An activity studio
- Ancillary support facilities
- A new dining room, which brings the school community into the core of the new building.
Dan Allison, Director, net zero buildings
By manufacturing the Lawrence Sheriff extension offsite, we minimised carbon emissions and maximised energy efficiency throughout the project, improving its environmental impact for generations to come
