Lengard

Eveline Lowe was built in the 1960’s, one of the very first open plan configured schools. A new headteacher was appointed as the school was identified as one of three Southwark schools requiring significant expansion & refurbishment. The school would grow from one form to two form entry, increasing the schools capacity by thirty per cent and providing a range of services to the community beyond core primary education. The eastern-side buildings were protected by English heritage in 2006.

The Challenge:

The well being of the school children was of paramount importance and the decision was made to create a new temporary school in one of the adjacent playgrounds using volumetric constructed units, operational in six weeks. Head Teacher Maxine Mallet was determined this experience would provide a learning opportunity for the pupils. The project was highly designed incorporating three stand alone new classroom facilities that required BREEAM very good certification, involving heat and hot water generation using biomass. Externally each new building would be finished with coloured glass curtain walling which contained a neutral solar coating to reflect and excessive sun light. The existing structure protected by English heritage would need to be preserved & sensitively refurbished.

How Lengard Overcame:

Having decanted the schools pupils to the newly created volumetric school in an adjacent playground, Lengards project team quickly set to work on establishing the new buildings. Lengard’s Site Manager was a regular visitor at School Assembly giving talks on a wide range of construction topics. Construction progress was good despite several large additional works programmes being implemented. The Curtain Walling was delivered on time and biomass boiler was installed with a supporting gas boiler feeding the hot water and heating system. A ventilation programmer was installed that controlled temperature and carbon dioxide in each classroom. All lighting new and existing was upgraded to modern high frequency low energy, which would make significant energy savings.