The new 6th Form building has been designed with sustainability at its heart, using science-led measures to assess the environmental performance of buildings. The building incorporates a range of innovative technologies to reduce energy use, conserve resources and improve the environment for our students.
Some of the features of the new build include the GDST’s first ground source heat pump and 40.5kW solar PV installation, both of which generate renewable electricity for the senior main building. Furthermore, ground staff can monitor and report on it live, which means they can adjust temperatures immediately. Gone are the days of sweltering with hot radiators and freezing with no warmth. The building also has eight new EV charging points, a rainwater harvesting system that supplies the toilets and external irrigation taps, and a chalk meadowgrass ‘blue roof’ system to help manage rainwater.
The 6th form building also contributes to biodiversity by creating valuable habitats for wildlife alongside spaces for our students to connect with nature. Ecology bricks have been incorporated into the external walls to provide homes for bats, sparrows, swifts, starlings and bees, while a new wildlife area includes a pond, loggery, insect hotel and allotment beds. Landscaping changes have delivered an impressive 221% net gain in biodiverse habitat and a 210% increase in hedgerow, alongside the planting of 15 new trees. If buildings are green, we have one that is bright, light and impressively green!