BAM have delivered a significant number of new-built schools throughout the UK, buildings which pose a number of operational challenges due to the increasing complexity of designs to accommodate diverse uses as well as due to the integration of new strategies and technologies. XCO2 collaborated closely with BAM to support the evolution of the design, construction and operational processes for key school sites across the country using the extensive experience in post-occupancy evaluations.
The school buildings investigated in detail by XCO2 included St Peter’s the Apostle High School in Clydebank, Robert Black and Elmwood Schools in Somerset, Boulevard Academy in Hull and King’s Science Academy in Bradford. These buildings incorporated various passive and active building services design strategies with varying degrees of complexity as well as low carbon and renewable technologies.
XCO2 reviewed in detail the building services design of the schools, carried out structured site visits, interviews with building operators and key building design and construction staff as well as undertook forensic utility and sub-meter data analysis to evaluate the energy performance of the buildings. This work enabled XCO2 to make strategic recommendations to BAM for their future school projects as well as a range of building-specific recommendations to the school operators for improving the operational performance of their schools.
