CUPACLAD 101 Logic has been specified by Lungfish Architects for a new six pavilion forest school located in Coalville.
Using the site’s location on the edge of the National Forest as inspiration, and in support of the Leicester County Council’s net zero carbon ambitions, the CUPACLAD slate rainscreen cladding system was selected to provide a natural and sustainable solution.
Greenstone Primary School was designed by Lungfish Architects in collaboration with Harworth Group plc. to provide 420 primary school places to the local community.
Following forest school principals, which emphasise developing a relationship with the natural world, Lungfish Architects selected materials for the school's external envelope based on their sustainability credentials and potential to be reused should the building ever be demolished or modified.
Nathan Webb, Associate Architect at Lungfish Architects stated: “Greenstone Primary School is the first of our school designs built for our client, Harworth Group plc. Their challenge to us, as a design team, was to develop a school blueprint that could adapt to any site, offering the flexibility to accommodate a range of school Form Entry requirements, alongside ensuing sustainability.”
CUPA PIZARRAS’ CUPACLAD 101 Logic rainscreen cladding system provided the ideal solution as it is both sustainable and ecological, thanks to its use of 100% natural Spanish slates and a recyclable aluminium substructure.Unlike other façade materials, no heat or chemicals are required during the slate’s production process, so it has a minimal environmental impact. Furthermore, as natural slate has a lifespan of over 100 years, they could be repurposed in the future.
Nathan continued: “In developing the material palette for this nature-inspired building, CUPACLAD offered one of the most sustainable and durable solutions for the façade, ideal for a school environment. We are incredibly pleased with the final result and believe that it reflects and enhances the origin of the forest school concept at the heart of Greenstone Primary School.”
Linear Developments (Nottingham) Ltd was appointed to install the façade package. The team installed the CUPACLAD on three elevations of each of the six single-storey school buildings, fitting 1,000m2 of the system in total. As well as the CUPACLAD®, the buildings also feature a mix of pitched and flat roofs, constructed from a combination of brick, render and timber. Combined these materials create a contemporary feel whilst complementing the surrounding residential area.
Oliver Turner, Director at Linear Developments (Nottingham) Ltd commented: “This was our very first installation of the CUPACLAD system and we found it a good system to work with. As every elevation on the project had either a raked edge or an opening, all the perimeter slates had to be trimmed specifically to fit, which was a challenge; however, we are really pleased with the finish, and we think it looks great. We’re now working with the same client and architect on another local school project that utilises the same CUPACLAD design.”
Since completing the installation, Linear Developments has been appointed to install the same CUPACLAD system on Thoresby Vale Primary Academy in Mansfield. Another Harworth Group plc. project, the school is currently under construction, following the same architectural design as Greenstone Primary School, scaled down to four single-story pavilion buildings.
