By Jemma Ison, Specification Executive and Group Sustainability Manager at IG Masonry Support
Safety is a paramount priority in schools, particularly in relation to building design. This is exemplified by the recent temporary closure of education sites across the UK due to the use of lightweight Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their construction. Brick offers natural structural strength and dimensional stability. Fire safe, as well as pollutant and allergen-free, clay-based brickwork creates ideal protection against the elements and with a lifespan of 100 years and more, reduces the need for potentially costly maintenance visits. As this feature highlights, brickwork incorporating modern masonry support systems can be used to create the ideal learning environment by fulfilling building designs that inspire students and staff alike.
The value of brick buildings in education
Brick buildings have so much to offer with longevity being one of their many sustainable attributes. Indeed, clay brick is one of the world’s most sustainable materials. In addition, for education buildings, they bring stature as well as style and their robust composition means bricks require minimal upkeep. Not only does this reduce carbon emissions in respect of maintenance but it is also a cost-effective option that is beneficial for schools operating with restrictive budgets.
Recyclable and reusable, clay bricks also display superb thermal properties. Brick buildings help keep occupants warmer in winter and cooler in summer. This is ideal for learning spaces as the internal temperature enhances comfort levels and helps students to focus for longer periods. Acoustically, brick buildings perform better than cladding or other building materials. Their ability to reduce noise pollution makes them the ideal external façade material for a quiet internal environment to enable optimal student concentration.
However, as the following case study illustrates, brick’s renaissance as a design source capable of creating buildings brimming with contemporaneous artistry and imagination has been propelled by the development of made-to-measure masonry support.
Case study: Headington School, The Hive
Overview
Headigton School is an independent school in Oxford. Founded in 1915, the private day and boarding facility has an intake of 1,020 girls aged three to 18. With a reputation as a school that nurtures and entertains its pupils whilst achieving excellent academic results, a new cross-circular learning centre, ‘The Hive’, has been built to foster student creativity.
The split-level building is designed to facilitate studies with an emphasis on sustainability, technology and enterprise. Its upper floor contains three fine art studios and two textile rooms. Each of the four areas features a double-height ceiling and windows large enough to fill rooms with natural daylight. This was key to imbuing each studio with a sense of space in which students’ creative thoughts were free to fly.
The Hive’s ground floor is equally as inspiring for the artistically minded. It includes a 3D engineering workshop, a kiln room, a traditional dark room, a lens studio and a 150-seat lecture theatre. This level also features gallery space for students to exhibit the results of their creative learning. For a key aspect of the building’s construction, IG Masonry Support was chosen by contractor Beard Construction to supply its industry-leading brick-on-soffit solution to facilitate a corbelled design at the Hive’s window heads.
The Challenge
IG Masonry Support was selected for the Headington School project following its successful collaboration with Beard Construction on a previous building programme involving corbelled design window heads. Initially, the architect had recommended precast concrete walls for The Hive’s corbelled effect windows. However, due to the complex nature of the design, IG Masonry Support was brought on board to provide a more efficient and cost-effective system.
The Hive project presented a number of challenges for IG Masonry Support and its delivery of a suitable brick-on-soffit solution. Firstly, units had to be individually designed and manufactured due to the size and complexity of the window heads’ corbelled aesthetic. In total, more than 240 units needed to be supplied with stainless steel hangers that fixed to the building’s structure.
Design issues aside, IG Masonry Support was required to supply its multiple brick-on-soffit units in June 2020. The deadline was put in doubt due to complications caused by the Covid-19 lockdown. However, aware of its responsibility from contractor to contractor, IG Masonry Support went the extra mile to ensure the systems arrived on site ready to install in March 2020 – a full three months ahead of schedule.
The Solution
Quick, easy to install, and able to fulfil the architect’s aesthetic design, IG Masonry Support’s stainless steel prefabricated ‘B.O.S.S’ units proved ideal for The Hive project. Indeed, the systems’ prefabricated, bespoke manufacture proved particularly beneficial in budgetary terms. A readymade solution for a wide range of complex brick detail applications, it’s estimated that specifying IG Masonry Support’s ‘B.O.S.S’ units, rather than opting for a traditional bricklaying process, reduced installation time on The Hive programme by up to 90%.
The B.O.S.S units’ amenability was additionally beneficial in fulfilling the striking corbelled design at the building’s corners. Again, their installation couldn’t have been easier. IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated manufacture of each unit meant upon their arrival on site they simply required hanging and pointing to ensure a seamless blend within the brickwork.
IG Masonry’s supply of the highest quality, complex brick-on-soffit systems on the market ensured The Hive’s intricate façade was formalised as per the architect’s enterprising vision. The company’s excellent working relationship with the contractor contributed to the project’s time and cost-effective completion. An example of this was IG Masonry Support’s provision of brick-on-soffit samples for the client which showcased how the system would be designed and manufactured.