A Transformative Project
The Department for Education supported by Innovate UK has partnered with construction innovators to deliver GenZero - a research project to deliver a new ultra-low carbon building standard for schools.
Our research driven design concept places nature at the heart of the educational environment; building zero carbon schools designed to promote the well-being of children, young people and all who use it. By putting the preservation and cultivation of the natural environment at the forefront of the design, the schools allow the user to interact with nature and seek the benefits of doing so in a way that’s proven to aid in health and well-being.
The kit of parts building strategy means simple, standardised spaces that aren’t defined by furniture and fittings, allowing for different curriculum models with little need for change. Constructed with timber, the buildings reduce environmental impact from construction, and this proposed platform for manufacturing within a factory setting will allow building of schools at scale with minimal waste across the UK in the future.
Benefits
The GenZero design rules have the potential to improve productivity whilst reducing build times, capital costs and carbon emissions.
Energy
The new design standards support the use of technology and techniques such as solar walls and panels, hot water pumps, and energy storage or release.
Cost
The new design concept will support a reduction in energy use which will, in turn, reduce running costs for schools. The kit of parts manufacture and assembly also has the potential to reduce supply chain and labour costs. The radical design and choice of materials have cost benefits across the whole life of the building.
Emissions
This project was conceived to help meet 2050 net zero targets and to inform new design standards, from which future schools will be built, will actively promote more sustainable, reduced-carbon schools. The new design concept promotes active energy buildings that can store, reduce or generate some of their own energy. The kit of parts manufacture and assembly processes can reduce emissions through an efficient supply chain, reduced materials and reduced transport.
Health
There is growing evidence that buildings that provide good quality environments including access to green space and excellent air quality are better for healthy and productive outcomes and promote wellbeing. This new design concept promotes healthier spaces to learn.
Productivity
The new design concept supports more efficient processes and techniques which will improve the time, labour and costs involved in school builds. This in turn has the potential to increase productivity.
Time
Department for Education (DfE) aims to build up to 200 new schools a year to provide enough places for pupils and renew existing buildings. The new design concept supports more efficient processes and techniques that will improve the time involved in school builds. The project will track time savings.
Uptake
Concepts and learning derived from the GenZero design will be applied to specifications in the future. Its digital format means the designs can be used by other Government departments that procure buildings, to share best practice and be more quickly adopted.
Whole Life Value
The net zero design model will highlight the specifications required in future procurements to achieve low emissions. It will also support the construction of learning spaces that promote mental and physical health. This will ensure that the whole-life value metrics that matter the most are applied, measured and monitored to help us reach 2050 net zero targets.
