Project Data
Value: £29m
Architect: Stride Treglown
Main Contractor: Bowmer + Kirkland
Subcontractor: TJL Plastering
Products used: Knauf ThroughWall System and Knauf Soundshield Plus
Saracens High School in Colindale, North West London is set to benefit from a brand new building constructed using the Knauf ThroughWall system. The new building will become a hub for the local area including pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.
The main contractor, Bowmer + Kirkland are well known in the sector for the quality of their school projects and were appointed to the Department for Education’s National Framework in 2013 and Regional Framework in 2014.
Neil Grosse, Senior Design Manager, Bowmer + Kirkland says, “Saracens School is the fifth or sixth school we’ve constructed using the Knauf ThroughWall system. There are a number of reasons we choose to partner with Knauf. A key benefit is that the Knauf ThroughWall system has BBA certification which makes it easy to demonstrate to building control that the building meets fire regulations.
“The support from Knauf is also fantastic, from the beginning of the project when the Knauf Design Engineers produce the fully elevated designs through to the site visits and ongoing support from their Business Development Manager who swiftly resolves any issues.”
Knauf ThroughWall is a one-manufacturer solution that provides an exterior infill panel system while allowing a flexibility of external finishes to be applied, such as rainscreen cladding and brickwork.
The Saracens School building is then sheathed with Knauf External Wall Insulation (EWI) fixed mechanically to the Knauf SFS over Knauf Windliner. This enables a render finish to be applied to the exterior of the building. Knauf Windliner seals the building envelope and is a popular choice as it can negate the need to install a separate breather membrane. The school’s external walls are clad with brickwork on the ground floor, with render above.
“From an architectural point of view using Knauf EWI with Knauf Render has allowed us to be playful with colour. The render is acrylic and is photo-stable so it doesn’t discolour or degrade over time, continuing to look fantastic. For Saracens High School we chose off-white with blocks of anthracite to break up the building and to tie in with the colour of the Saracen’s rugby club which opened the school in 2018,” comments Neil.
Internally the project uses Knauf Soundshield Plus plasterboard which offers enhanced acoustic performance and excellent fire resistance.
Constantin Catana, Contracts Manager, TJL Plastering Ltd is the subcontractor on the project, “All the external elevations and internal partitions in the build are Knauf so the project benefits from the full Knauf System Performance Warranty which is reassuring for all concerned.
“We also find the support from the Knauf Technical Team invaluable. They come to site regularly to check the installation of both the external and internal systems and provide reports with their findings. These visits also give us an opportunity to ask any questions, and if we have any issues, Knauf are always quick to come up with solutions.”
The new school will be ready for students and staff to move into towards the end of 2021.