Creating a bright learning space at Alford Academy

Main contractor Morrison Construction approached GLASSOLUTIONS to manufacture and install an attractive curtain walling system for the development, choosing glazing products carefully to create a space with excellent temperature control, effective ventilation and plentiful natural light.In recent years, Alford Academy has found it increasingly hard to accommodate its large yearly intake of new pupils.

With existing campus capacity at its limit, a £37 million contract was devised by Aberdeenshire County Council, in partnership with hub North and the Scottish Futures Trust, to create the school’s new Community Campus. The new site accommodates 960 pupils and has brought together the primary, secondary and senior years on a single site, as well as providing sport and leisure facilities for the wider community.

The concept for the Community Campus was based around the creation of a central social hub for students, with classrooms and study areas branching off from this central area. The social ‘hub’ area is two storeys high in places: this allows areas to be used flexibly for a variety of activities, as well as creating a large and airy space which lets in a considerable amount of natural light.

The wide range of purposes that the new campus was intended to fulfil meant that versatility was a particularly important aspect of the glazing specification. In order to create a safe, light, well-ventilated space for students, GLASSOLUTIONS selected Metal Technology’s System 17 High Rise curtain walling system to form the building’s envelope.

With a continuous thermal isolator providing a thermal break throughout, paired with thermally broken casement windows from Metal Technology’s System 4-20 range, the low U-value of this configuration provides excellent thermal efficiency, maintaining a comfortable internal temperature for students and minimising the need for climate control. Large glass units were chosen for the project to maximise light transmittance and provide a bright interior.

Responses to the new campus have been overwhelmingly positive; the development has been praised for its light, airy interior and how well it has accommodated the needs of the students and wider community.

Jim Hanna, project director at Morrison Construction, said: “Working with our partners and suppliers, the Campus was finished ahead of the coming academic term… We are immensely proud to have been involved in bringing this fantastic new resource to fruition for the local community.”

The completed project has also been praised more widely by influential the construction industry. The development, along with project managers hub North, was named a finalist for the Community Development Project of the Year award at the Scottish Property Awards 2016.