Bobby Moore Academy Secondary School, London

This unusually tall, six-storey school was designed in response to a tight site and an ambitious programme of accommodation, whilst also maximising outdoor play space for the students. 

Space was at such a premium that the building was built right up against the boundary with the Olympic Stadium’s running track, which  required periodic shut downs of site operations while it was in use for training. Programme was therefore also a particular focus for the project.   

The concrete frame and flat slab solution provided significant programme benefits as the construction of the building was able to progress while the detailed intended programme of internal spaces and wall locations were still being finalised. This flexibility was also recognised as a long term sustainability benefit, building in resilience for future  adaptations by the school and therefore longevity. The flat slab also simplified the installation of internal partitions and suspended ceilings, reducing waste on site and having a further positive impact on programme.

The concrete’s thermal mass was utilized as part of the buildings low energy services strategy, reducing the need for additional cooling and keeping running costs, energy use and its associated carbon footprint down. Since the site was on a busy flight path, day time ventilation through openable windows was impractical, leading to the development of a hybrid natural solution based on a heat recovery ventilation unit fitted to an external acoustic louvre incorporated into the side of the window units.

Ventilation rates are controlled based on carbon dioxide levels in the classroom, although teachers do have an override facility, and they can also open a small panel beneath the hybrid units to increase ventilation, if needed. The units cool the concrete soffits at night too, maintaining the effectiveness of the thermal mass and ensuring comfortable classroom temperatures the following day.

Exposed soffits were painted to improve light reflectance and were prefinished before the suspended services were installed. On the ground and first floor, where the concrete structure is exposed, the round columns have a smooth finish created by the by use of PVC-lined formwork.

The concrete itself contained ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), which, together with avoidance of suspended ceilings, significantly reduces the embodied carbon of the building. The frame also contains 25% recycled aggregate.

Featured in CQ Spring 2019 (pg 8)