Saint-Gobain in the UK and Ireland, the leader in the sustainable habitat and construction markets, has announced the start of its first project in the UK to be built to Multi-Comfort standards.
Together with Associated Architects and building contractor Speller Metcalfe, Saint-Gobain is putting its recently launched Multi-Comfort building concept into practice – a holistic approach to constructing buildings, designed to improve occupant comfort, health and wellbeing.
Work has begun constructing the new £1.2m multi-purpose sports and drama hall for one of Worcestershire’s leading independent schools.
Research has proved that well-designed acoustic environments in schools enhance concentration and help pupils and teachers to communicate. Better quality environments in schools have led to increased attendance by three days per year, a 5–14% improvement in test scores, and 20–26% faster learning rates in schools with optimal daylight.
The 450sqm development at King’s Hawford Junior School, in Worcester, will include a main sports hall, an office, storeroom, kitchenette, toilets and changing rooms. Due for completion December 2015, The Barn, which will replace the existing sports hall, will be used for games, assemblies, drama, music and dance plus external lettings.
Multi-Comfort buildings surpass existing Building Regulations, incorporating the energy efficiency and thermal comfort standards set by Passivhaus and introducing new standards in audio, indoor-air and visual comfort to give the teachers and students an ideal place to work and learn.
Headmaster Jim Turner said: “The Barn represents a major investment for us and when it’s completed it will give fantastic multi-purpose sports and drama facility for our pupils. The use of Multi-Comfort on the building will be perfect for the range of activities held there and I’m looking forward to seeing the difference it makes to the productivity and learning capabilities for the pupils.
“The Barn will be a great benefit to the school and I am certain it will be a superb facility to be used and enjoyed by many generations of pupils.”
Mark Allen, Technical Director for Saint-Gobain in the UK and Ireland, said: “After launching the concept at Ecobuild this year, it’s great to be able to put our years of research and development into practice and see Multi-Comfort come to life.
“During the building’s operation, we’ll be working with the team to implement a series of monitoring systems that will collect data, which will prove useful in demonstrating the differences that both the teachers and children will experience within the Multi-Comfort building.”
