Technology from Priva Building Intelligence Ltd has played the lead role in a fully-functioning interactive energy learning and awareness experience at a new education facility in north London.

Grosvenor Technology’s JANUS Enterprise access control system is at the heart of the University of Salford’s new One Card project, which allows students and staff access to a wide range of buildings and services throughout the campus.

As part of Croydon Council’s on-going commitment to create more primary school places, The Robert Fitzroy Academy in Davidson Road, central Croydon is being fitted with Zehnder Multicolumn radiators.

Baxi Commercial Division has supplied energy efficient equipment, including a combined heat and power unit, for a complete refurbishment of the heating system serving the prestigious Oakham School’s swimming pool and sports hall.

Martin Wilkinson, National Sales Manager at Spirotech UK, firmly believes that in the school environment, water conditioning and its control are vital to achieving efficient, reliable operation and longevity of plant.

Adrian Witty of Portable Offices Limited looks at the renaissance in pre-fabricated buildings as a recession-proof solution for education expansion needs and dispels some outdated ‘cabin myths’.

Despite the gloomy trading conditions and cut-backs, pre-schools and nurseries are still enjoying some benefits which include the Government’s move to extend free part-time places to 40% of two year olds by 2014.

The blame culture which operates in our society today means there can be no stone left unturned when it comes to the application of health and safety. This doesn’t just apply to how new buildings are constructed but also how they are designed, finished and maintained.

Teaching young people the importance of using energy wisely is something that appeals to an increasing number of schools. Andrew Skelcey of Trend Controls examines the educational role that building energy management system (BEMS) monitoring software plays while at the same time reducing CO2 emissions and saving money

Apex Wiring Solutions has won a contract to supply modular wiring systems for two new schools under construction in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Humberside.

The contract will see them design, manufacture and supply the modular wiring system, featuring pre-wired distribution boards, fully pluggable lighting and small power throughout, for the Northern Academy and Andrew Marvell Business and Enterprise College (AMBEC).

An acclaimed Hertfordshire school, with the coveted ‘outstanding’ Ofsted status, is setting the standards in energy saving and is one of the first in the UK to install a high efficiency Dimplex air source heat pump.

Sir John Lawes secondary school in Harpenden, as well as being a training school and specialist centre for science and media arts, also holds the Ofsted status of ‘Outstanding for Education for Sustainable Development’. So a high performance, low carbon heating solution was an essential feature of a new maths block building for its 1,200 students.

Curl la Tourelle Architects have specified Foamglas cellular glass insulation at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Junior School in London to meet the sustainable ethos of the architectural team.

The new junior school replaces the existing building on a confined urban site on Linacre Road, Willesden in London and provides a modern educational facility which improves on the previous building in terms of its aesthetics, performance and environmental impact.

As many modern educational institutions expand and develop, they are finding it necessary to replace deteriorating school buildings with modern architecture that provides a comfortable working space for the future. In addition, the constant pressure on budgets, and the requirement to meet stringent energy efficiency regulations within Part L of the Building Regulations (that are anticipated to become stricter in the future) architects, specifiers and building managers are continually looking for more succinct design solutions to match their plans.

By Mike Lamb, Managing Director of Warmafloor

A good education is one of the cornerstones of contemporary society and, in order for children to attain their highest academic potential, it is imperative that the buildings in which they are educated provide the optimum environment for them to learn and grow.

By Keith Minster, Sales Manager UK & Ireland for Morley-IAS by Honeywell

Recent research has identified that more than 90% of the general public rarely think about how to get out of a building, whether or not they use it regularly.  In the event of a fire alarm, the most common response is ‘to follow the people around me’, with more than one quarter of respondents ‘assuming that it is a false alarm until advised otherwise’.