Forma metal column casings from Encasement’s Verta range, have been installed at Lime Wood Primary School in Erith, Kent, to conceal structural steel supports located around the perimeter of the school’s innovative circular design.
Operated by the Woodland Academy Trust, the three storey building provides education for up to 630 pupils, from nursery up to year six, and uses extensive glazing to allow natural light on both the inner and outer sides of its circular structure.
An integral element of the school’s circular design is the use of ten structural supports around part of its circumference, which allows access between play areas, the central courtyard, and classrooms.
Each structural column is concealed with a 750mm diameter Forma casing, which is bespoke manufactured from 2mm thick aluminium and vary in height between 5.2 and 5.5 metres, while some casings also incorporate removable access panels for inspection and maintenance.
The weather resistant and durable metal column casings have a PPC finish in RAL9020 Chrome Green, which integrates with Lime Wood School’s overall design scheme, as well as reflecting the area’s history and the ecological aspects of the project.
Forma metal casings are part of Encasement’s Verta range of pre-formed and pre-finished column casing solutions, that include MDF, plywood and GRG materials, for interior use only, as well as GRP casings, which, like Forma, can be specified on both interior and exterior projects. A full range of technical information is available online, including DWG and PDF drawings, plus NBS specification clauses and literature.