St Paul's Junior School

The design, targeting BREEAM Excellent, features a green roof system, photovoltaic panels, and rain gardens. The all-electric MEP strategy for the buildings utilises mixed-mode ventilation, with ventilation in peak winter and peak summer conditions provided via air handling units (AHUs) at roof level. In mild conditions, large windows can be opened for natural ventilation and cooling. Window-opening indicators are provided in each space to inform occupants when it is most energy-efficient to open or close their windows.

Future summer heatwave conditions were considered throughout the design process. The heating system was designed as a two-pipe reversible system, so that during the peak summer months, cooling could be provided to classrooms by running the heat pumps in reverse while utilising the same distribution pipework and emitters. This strategy helped limit total construction costs and embodied carbon and supports climate resilience, with the buildings passing overheating analysis against Technical Memorandum 52 (TM52) and 2080 future weather files. 

Areas of the building that have a higher cooling demand, such as the main hall, ICT suites and internal rooms without opening windows, utilise variable refrigerant flow (VRF) based cooling systems independent of the central two-pipe reversible system, so that cooling to these spaces can be provided at times when the rest of the building requires heating.