We are proud to be working with Willmott Dixon as they complete works at Hollycroft Primary School in Leicestershire.
The 210-place building is not only now a certified BREEAM Excellent building, but it is also aiming to be the county’s first net-zero in operation school!
The school in Normandy Way plays a big part in Leicestershire County Council’s plan to become a net-zero carbon county by 2045 and will deliver net-zero carbon for both regulated and unregulated energy.
We are delighted to be handing over certification of the BREEAM Excellent rating and the school will act as a template for future sustainable schools in the region which are already underway.
The new building took a fabric-first approach, using materials with a low U-value to enhance the building’s thermal efficiency – such as enhanced fabric walls, floors and roof as well as enhanced performance windows. This approach maximises air tightness, reducing the impact of external temperatures and keeping the building at an ambient temperature. When the building is in operation, this will help to reduce heating and cooling costs.
The design teams also specified a cross-laminated, prefabricated timber frame, which has helped to reduce embodied carbon emissions when compared to a traditional steel frame. By manufacturing the frame offsite, the programme for the timber frame erection was also half when compared to more traditional methods.
Finally, a 381m2 photovoltaic array sits on the roof to power the building, air source heat pumps provide heating and warm water, and electric vehicle charging points can be found in the car park.
As part of the building’s design, the school will act as the first STEM school for OWLS (Oadby, Wigston and Leicestershire Schools) Academy Trust. Inside the building, a range of M&E features have been left exposed so that the students can start to understand the different elements that go into a building.
Read more about Willmott Dixon’s approach to cutting both embodied and operational carbon.
- BREEAM Excellent Assessment
- Embodied Carbon Reporting
- Life Cycle Assessment
- Indoor Air Quality Assessment
