Schools *back* for the Summer!

Thornhill Primary School has officially been handed over ready for the return of teachers and students in September.

Designed by ECD Architects Thornhill primary expanded from a 1-form entry school to a 3-form entry school with a new building designed to the Passivhaus Standard and refurbishment / remodelling works to the existing building to enable both new and old to be holistically brought together. The project followed the principles of the circular economy – with materials selected for their low embodied carbon, including CLT, the building’s primary structural material.

The school separates the year groups between the two buildings whilst presenting the school as a single facility through a carefully designed external landscape and connections between the two buildings. These internal and external teaching spaces have then been designed to support the school’s free flow teaching approach.

Sustainability was at the forefront of the design, creating a healthy learning environment, which is underlined by the new building’s implementation of Passivhaus principals and the use of CLT as the principal construction material.  Passivhaus was selected as this would ensure the new facility’s quality of construction, provide significant benefits to the whole life cycle cost, reduce its financial running costs and improve thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

John Heaney MCIAT, Project Lead for ECD Architects

“We are very excited that the pupils & staff of Thornhill Primary will gain the benefits of this new building when they return in September. Better air quality and thermal comfort, and improved well-being, with reduced running costs; it is no surprise that more councils and education bodies are choosing to build to the Passivhaus standard and with CLT to provide exemplar learning environments like Thornhill for future generations to benefit from.”

Claire Bryan, Co-Chair said on behalf of Governors for Thornhill School

“We cannot wait to open up this outstanding space for students at Thornhill in September. It’s forward-thinking design will allow us immeasurable opportunities for furthering the children’s awareness around environmental innovations, enriching their educational aspirations and providing boundless benefits to our growing community for future generations.”

Cllr Sue Clark, Central Bedfordshire Council Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:

“We’re delighted that Thornhill Primary will be able to welcome pupils into this brand-new building once they return from their summer holidays in September. Our New School Places programme is about creating additional places in areas of demand like Houghton Regis, so that more children can go to a good local school on their doorstep. I’m sure pupils and staff will look forward to using the new facilities.”

Nathan Wheatley, Director of Engenuiti, CLT engineer

“It is exciting to see Thornhill Primary School built as an example of what can be achieved with cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam. CLT is not only low in embodied carbon, but also a fantastic material which can provide the airtightness needed to achieve Passivhaus certification. Studies have linked the use of timber in learning spaces to improved wellbeing and better concentration. The new Thornhill Primary School building is a warm and welcoming space for learners and teachers alike.”

Passivhaus Trust Article on the project: Passivhaus News (passivhaustrust.org.uk)