Hayesfield STEM starts on site

Posted on January 31, 2012

Hayesfield Girls’ School is a Technology College with an emphasis on innovation in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) The School works with Trust partners to enhance specific STEM activities and courses for students such as research projects looking at environmental monitoring of buildings and working with scientists in residence.

The proposed building incorporates an efficient layout of labs and classrooms arranged around a Super Lab and double-height learning resource centre, and will allow the school to extend its provision of STEM teaching through an integrated approach to learning.
Sustainability is a key driver for the new building which will visibly demonstrate low energy design, construction, materials and use to all users and act as a learning resource, demonstration model and catalyst for sustainable thinking and initiatives for the whole school. The building will be built from a versatile and efficient straw bale cladding  system eliminating the need for a separate structural frame and increasing speed of build on site through pre-fabrication.

An ‘A-rated’ Demonstration Energy Certificate (DEC) will be targeted by maximising passive performance through a highly efficient envelope enhanced by low energy use products and services, but critically through an ongoing consultation with the school user group to enhance understanding of the way that the building will most efficiently operate in use.

The project is due for completion September 2012.