Kingsmead Primary School in Northwich is an exemplar of sustainable design and construction, with the building itself playing a role in teaching and learning. Designed by White Design Associates.
As a consequence of major new housing developments in the immediate area, the need for a new, seven class primary school of 150 pupils with scope for future expansion was identified. The idea for an exemplar sustainable school came from the Council's frustration at the lack of progress in taking forward the sustainability agenda on recent projects. An analysis of a previous building showed that the materials had travelled a total of 250,000 construction miles. The Council agreed a sustainable construction policy late in 2002, and immediately set about applying it to a flagship scheme.
Cheshire County Council therefore decided to enter into a partnering agreement with the building contractor Wilmot Dixon, with whom they had successfully built two other schools. Crucially important in the success of the project was the decision by Wilmott Dixon to appoint White Design as architects, a young practice with a growing reputation for innovation in sustainable design. With Arups as services engineers and Mander Structural Design, Wilmott Dixon was able to provide a complete Design and Build package.
White design were commissioned in April 2003, the project started on site in September 2003, and was completed in June 2004, a construction period of only 9 months.
