Classroom of the Future, Borough of Telford & Wrekin

"Staff and students have been very excited about this project since its inception. The students feel privileged to be given such an innovative building, which successfully addresses the issue of sustainability."


The Requirement

The 'Classroom of the Future' is a Department for Education and Skills (DFES) initiative to push back the boundaries of design for teaching and learning.

The project for the Borough of Telford & Wrekin is one of 12 to create new prototype classrooms. The classrooms design is used at two schools in Telford – Lord Silkin Secondary School and Wrockwardine Wood Junior School.

The Solution

Designed by Integer, who were responsible for the 'House of the Future' featured on BBC1's 'Dreamhouse' series, the classrooms were manufactured and fitted out by Yorkon off-site in York. They were craned into position at each of the two schools.

Each classroom is a totally self-contained building allowing it to be used by the community outside school hours. Groundbreaking technology and a range of new innovations in design and construction have created two highly sustainable and energy efficient learning centres.

Features include:

• Specialist steel helical foundations to minimise waste from preparation of the sites
• The use of off-site construction to halve the build time and reduce disruption
• A living sedum roof, providing a number of environmental benefits, such as oxygenating the air, encouraging wildlife and adding colour to the buildings
• Photovoltaic cells and wind turbines generate electricity; solar panels generate hot water
• Wind catchers to naturally ventilate the classrooms
• Low maintenance western red cedar cladding to shade the classroom in summer and insulate the building in winter
• Underfloor heating to free wall space for displays and teaching aids
• Suspended gondolas to carry lighting and other services instead of traditional suspended ceilings

This high profile project demonstrates how good design can be used to create exciting education buildings with all the benefits of off-site construction. The modular approach halved the programme time, guaranteed quality, reduced disruption to teaching whilst the new classrooms were being built and, critically, have provided each school with highly flexible and energy efficient teaching accommodation to meet changing local needs.

Comments from the Client

Councillor Peggie Harrison, Cabinet Member for Education & Training at the Borough of Telford and Wrekin:

"We have used the latest in construction techniques and education design thinking. As part of the concept design, we asked pupils and teachers what they really want, and thought long and hard about sustainability. We believe we have a replicable and highly innovative design that provides safe, comfortable and inspirational teaching spaces."

Jane Woodall, Headteacher at The Lord Silkin School:

"Staff and students have been very excited about this project since its inception. The students feel privileged to be given such an innovative building, which successfully addresses the issue of sustainability. The fact that the latest ICT equipment and video conferencing is now available to them on a daily basis gives them a better insight into the world of work. The Lord Silkin School sees the classroom as an exciting addition to its bid for business and enterprise specialist status."


Award

Building Sights Award, sponsored by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and the Arts Council England