Amey, a provider of essential facilities and asset management services for the UK Public Sector, has recently collaborated with City of Edinburgh Council to develop a design solution to provide additional facilities that will enhance the teaching capacity at the Royal High School in Edinburgh.
Following the successful delivery of six temporary modular classrooms in 2020, the Local Authority commissioned Amey’s project team to develop proposals for a permanent modular extension that would provide additional learning space for circa 240 pupils - along with a technical workshop facility.
They wanted the solution to strive for Carbon Net Zero (CNZ), limiting the environmental impact of the overall construction, in line with the local authority’s CNZ commitments.
Amey was appointed as principal designer and worked with its specialist supply chain to develop a state-of-the-art modular building proposal, that incorporates key carbon reduction technologies in three fundamental stages.
The first of these stages focuses on creating improved building fabric to promote better insulation, ventilation, and airtightness. The second looks at reducing the carbon footprint of the mechanical & electrical services that providing air conditioning, heating, hot water, and lighting.
Finally, the third stage creates on-site power generation, through roof-mounted solar PVs.
Lighting designs were modelled use computer software to develop the most efficient LED arrangement, ensuring the correct number, type and controls were adopted to achieve the optimum lighting levels and quality for learning environments.
Amey Head of Projects, Martin Finn, commented: “It has been great to work collaboratively with our stakeholders to develop this modular build solution. The team’s innovation and enthusiasm has resulted in the design achieving EPC Scotland Classification of “Carbon Neutral”. We look forward to the anticipated 2023 construction phase, where we will again demonstrate our ability to deliver innovative but practical solutions that increase headcounts, within operational school environments.”
Amey FM Scotland Operations, Diane Gillies, commented: “Helping our clients transition to a greener and more sustainable future is vitally important to us. Our knowledge and expertise in managing educational facilities means we are well positioned to help with the energy transition journey, and we hope to support clients with more solutions like this in the future.”
These designs now give Amey a Net Zero Modular Build concept that can be rolled out across other sites and locations.