Sixth Form Development, Coventry
Fatade was engaged to deliver a comprehensive Energy and Carbon Reduction Strategy for a new £3.5 million Sixth Form block in Coventry. Designed to accommodate increasing student intake, the project required a robust, sustainable approach to building performance.
Our scope included Part L Building Regulations compliance calculations, CIBSE heat loss analysis, BB101 assessments (covering ventilation, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality), and Climate-Based Daylight Modelling.
To create a thermally comfortable, low-carbon learning environment, Fatade prioritised natural ‘passive’ design strategies over ‘active’ mechanical systems. Using ApacheSim Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM), we applied an integrated approach that optimised solar gain, daylight access, insulation performance, thermal mass, ventilation design, and heating systems.
The building, which features an internal atrium, was designed with an enhanced fabric specification in accordance with Part L. Glazing was carefully selected to balance beneficial solar gains with the risk of overheating. A mixed-mode ventilation strategy was developed, combining hybrid systems in teaching spaces with windcatcher natural ventilation for the atrium, ensuring year-round thermal comfort and air quality.
Our holistic approach to energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and building performance helped ensure a healthy, comfortable, and energy-conscious learning space, with reduced power demands and long-term operational benefits.
Comprehensive energy and carbon reduction strategy for an innovative £3.5 million Sixth Form building, prioritising passive design and thermal comfort in contemporary learning environments.
Task
Develop a thermally comfortable, low-carbon educational environment that balances beneficial solar gains with overheating risk, while optimising indoor air quality for increasing student populations.
