The pioneering Eastwood School is setting new standards for Scottish school design and specialist manufacturer Faber Blinds has enjoyed a key role in its development.
Faber Blinds, part of the Hunter Douglas group, is internationally recognised for fabricating outstanding solar shading solutions for commercial premises. It offers a wide range of products supplying both internal and external blinds, as well as awnings and brise soleil.
This expertise was called upon for the Eastwood School project in Glasgow, completed by delivery architects Cooper Cromar and main contractors BAM.
The school has introduced innovative measures including open-plan area designed to counteract bullying, identically-designed classrooms and dual-purpose common areas. These features were integral to the success of the project, but also presented a number of significant design challenges to Faber’s team.
Working closely with both the architects and contractors from the start of the initial design process, Faber Blinds ensured the solutions it created met the stringent requirements of the new building. The systems included Faber’s 1800 roller blind systems for rooflights installed at the school’s 10 x 12.5m rooflights that can be locked precisely in any required position. The motorised system was required due to the size and height of the rooflights.
Several control options are offered with the Faber 1800 OL system. Manual control using a rod operated gearbox is a simple and low cost solution for smaller blind sizes. Electric operation is available for high level or inaccessible installations and large areas of glazing, or where the blinds need to be grouped and centrally controlled. An FTS system is also available with Faber 1800 OL Blackout Blinds, using a motor at each end of the blind.
Elsewhere in the new development, open vent windows needed to open automatically in the event of a fire. Faber’s solution was to link the management controls for its 1800 FTS blinds to fire alarms so they open automatically in case of emergency. All fabrics used for the 1800 FTS blinds systems offered by Faber are Fire Retardant, DIN 4102 B1.
This imaginative system, combined with the close working relationship through design stage, to manufacture and installation, ensured Faber Blinds played a key role in the success of the overall scheme.
Cooper Cromar paid tribute to the professional approach of the delivery team, including Faber Blinds, in creating such an innovative educational establishment. The Faber solutions are instrumental in achieving the main design ethos of the project. “The school design is based on a learning hub concept with the school’s teaching spaces wrapped around a bright and open central atrium which combines, teaching, learning and social spaces,” said a spokesman.
The project is a landmark for Scottish education as Eastwood School has a “twin” over 50 miles away. Although Eastwood and Lasswade schools look different from the outside, the “twins” are identical in terms of their internal specification.
The dual developments are the result of a unique collaborative arrangement – established by Scottish Futures Trust – between East Renfrewshire and Midlothian Councils. That arrangement has helped deliver two modern, high-quality schools while at the same time achieving savings totalling more than £4 million.
Diane Leask, quality improvement officer for Renfrewshire council, said all those involved had helped to deliver “a superb building that provides a flexible, stimulating and inclusive learning environment for both pupils and staff with an excellent state-of-the-art educational and sport facility”.
As a result of this, 20 other local authorities across Scotland are now working in collaborative groups on their new school projects to achieve similar savings and benefits.
