GML Construction, one of the UK’s leading contractors and developers of turnkey construction packages, has completed a flagship £1.8 million sustainable nursery complex in Farnham, Surrey. This marks the start of a roll out of similar new facilities across the Home Counties.
The client, The Childcare Corporation, wanted a contractor that could environmentally develop their existing building to house the nursery complex, whilst also ensuring it was a fully sustainable building. GML Construction has met this challenge.
As the first in the planned series, Westchester House Nursery School has been described as a ‘totally new concept’ in nursery care and offers places for 100 children aged 0-5 years, providing longer opening hours, improved staff to child ratios and organic food sourced locally.
Appointed to complete the full design and build of the new facility, GML Construction created a two-storey timber framed hexagonal structure on the 650m2 site. Chosen for its renewable credentials, the use of timber also allowed the introduction of off-site construction techniques with the frame constructed and then delivered to site for fast and efficient erection; this helped to speed up the construction process whilst minimising waste and causing minimal disruption to local residents.
Once structural work was complete, external walls were clad in a natural brick and finished with an ashlar grooved render. To ensure the new building matched existing local architecture, a series of aesthetic horizontal recesses were carefully cut into the render to provide a complementary finish.
Built on a sloping site, the nursery complex presented a series of challenging design issues to which GML Construction applied a number of innovative measures. To overcome an existing 6 metre site cross fall, GML used a combination of tiered retaining walls around the building and the creation of a contoured rubberised amphitheatre. This enabled the negation of the cross fall whilst providing a stylish and functional play area in the nursery garden.
To meet The Childcare Corporation’s desire for the building to be as sustainable as possible, GML Construction installed a range of energy saving technologies – including solar panels, a heat pipe solar collector and under floor heating.
To provide the nursery with free electricity and hot water – whilst reducing its running costs and carbon footprint – a series of solar photovoltaic panels and a solar thermal system were installed. GML Construction’s specialist team fitted a comprehensive PV system comprising of 6 x 185 watt solar photovoltaic panels covering approximately 8.5m2 of roof area. This will produce an estimated annual output of 885 kWh, producing a combined income and saving of nearly £500 a year based on current energy rates.
To complete the energy-saving roof installation, a heat pipe solar collector was installed. Consisting of a row of 20 solar tubes and an insulated water manifold, the system transforms direct and diffuse solar radiation into useable heat. Its estimated annual output of 2595KW will help to provide free hot water for the nursery’s entire life cycle.
As well as solar systems and the use of a timber frame, GML Construction also installed a comprehensive under floor heating system to the ground floor and air source heat pumps on the first floor. Studies have shown that this will create possible savings of 10-20% when compared with traditional heating.
Now completed, GML Construction and The Childcare Corporation have created a prestigious new-build nursery that is a shining example of modern childcare and building sustainability. With a stunning appearance and innovative use of sustainable elements, the Westchester House Nursery will continue to set the standard for childcare facilities for many years to come.
For further information visit www.gmlconstruction.co.uk
