St Gabriel’s C of E Academy, Houlton, Rugby

In May 2016, CGJ Services received a telephone call, advising of a new town development. This new community is to be called Houlton, as the first Transatlantic telephone call was made to Houlton in the US state of Maine from the Rugby Radio Station, which previously occupied the location where the townwas to be built, following the decommissioning of the radio station in 2007.

This development represents the first phase of a 1,200-acre development which will eventually comprise 6,200 new homes, three primary schools, a secondary school,a GP health centre, 31 hectares of employment space and 299 hectares of open space.

CGJ Services were approached to assist with the design and cost development of M&E services to a proposed new school.

In conjunction with the client and consulting engineer, CGJ engineered the costs and services in order to meet the available budget, whilst ensuring that the services are flexible enough to allow the building to be extended and the site to accommodate an additional two phases, projected for the future.

The main primary school building, is a single storey construction, with cooking and dining facilities and 8 modern teaching classrooms.

The buildings have been positioned to make best use of natural heating and light by careful use of south facing glazing. The building is predominantly naturally ventilated, and the whole site is designed to assist security, requiring minimal use of door access and CCTV. Exposed concrete soffits in the classroom areas promote natural cooling, augmented by LPHW fed radiant panels to temper the environment through the cooler months. The building is illuminated by LED lighting with daylight dimming as applicable.

Staff and teaching spaces are fitted with data and small power outlets as required,with domestic water services to all sanitary and catering appliances.

The project was completed by Winter 2017.