31 May 2010
Capita Symonds’ Ysgol y Graig Primary
School project in North Wales has won the Sustainability category
at the annual CLAW (Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales)
Awards.
A team from Colwyn Bay provided structural,
geotechnical and landscape architecture services on the £3.9m
project on behalf of client Anglesey County Council.
The existing Ysgol y Graig Primary School has
been relocated from a busy industrial estate to a greenfield site
on the outskirts of Llangefni, Anglesey. The school is within
walking or cycling distance for the majority of the children,
therefore dramatically reducing the number of car journeys at
school start and finishing times. A direct footpath link to
the nearby housing estate also provides a safe route to school for
the children.
A decision was taken at a very early stage
that the school would be a ‘green’ school - a landmark development
for Anglesey in both design and construction. The main sustainable
features of the new school are:
- Green Roof: a large percentage of the
roof area has been finished with an extensive 'green' sedum roof
system. The roof creates a natural habitat for plant and insects
and other local ecology while contributing to storm water
management by retaining rainwater.
- Timber Frame: selected for its sustainable
properties and for being a carbon neutral material. The timber
framed panels for this scheme were manufactured in Presteigne, Mid
Wales and delivered to site for erection, therefore reducing site
waste. The whole of the timber frame for the new school was erected
in just twelve weeks.
- Solar Panels: the roof on the south
facing elevation benefits from a large area of solar
photovoltaic panels, expected to generate approximately 22,000 kWh
(units) per year, resulting in a carbon saving of approximately
13.5 tonnes of CO2 reduction. It is estimated that the combination
of the PV panels and the wind turbine will generate almost 50% of
the school’s annual electricity requirements. All surplus
electricity generated when the school is not in use, particularly
during the summer holidays, is to be sold back to the National
Grid.
- Wind Turbine: There is one wind turbine
installed on the site which has an anticipated energy output of up
to 8,100 KWhrs per annum. CO2 savings of 3.5 tonnes per year are
forecasted.
- Natural Ventilation: The school has been
designed to be naturally ventilated wherever possible. In all
classrooms and in the hall a stack effect ventilation approach has
been adopted.
Colwyn Bay’s Scala Cinema and Arts Centre in
Prestatyn was also commended in the 'Building of the Year'
category. The project was also a winner at the recent RICS Wales
Awards.