The Buchan Primary School Relocation

Energy-Efficient MEP for Education: Revitalising underused school buildings with a modern, sustainable MEP strategy designed to meet BB101 guidelines.

This project is transforming three underused buildings on the King William’s College campus into a new home for The Buchan primary school and nursery facility. Working with older structures presents unique challenges, requiring careful planning and coordination to integrate modern MEP systems while preserving the architectural integrity of the buildings.

A key focus is the precise coordination of a new plant room within a constrained footprint. Using Revit, March Consultants Ltd is developing a fully coordinated model to maximise space efficiency while ensuring compliance with CDM requirements and maintaining clear maintenance access. Given the importance of indoor air quality in an educational environment, the ventilation strategy incorporates Monodraught APX hybrid ventilation units, selected to meet BB101 guidelines. These systems optimise both natural and mechanical ventilation, improving air quality while reducing energy consumption.

The heating strategy involves enhancing the existing district heating network by integrating plate heat exchangers and inverter-driven pumps. This approach is expected to deliver energy savings of up to 20% while improving system resilience. Fan-assisted radiators are being specified to operate efficiently at lower flow temperatures, ensuring compatibility with future low-carbon heat sources and supporting long-term sustainability goals.

On the electrical side, high-efficiency LED lighting is being installed throughout to reduce energy demand and minimise maintenance requirements. The hot water generation strategy further supports decarbonisation by replacing traditional storage systems with electric point-of-use water heaters. This eliminates standing losses, reduces legionella risk, and improves overall system efficiency.

The refurbishment aims to strike a balance between modern performance standards and the constraints of the existing building fabric. By applying a holistic approach to energy efficiency, ventilation, heating, and electrical systems, March Consultants Ltd is delivering a solution that enhances sustainability, occupant comfort, and long-term adaptability while ensuring the MEP design integrates seamlessly within the broader refurbishment works.

Quick Info:

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Title: The Buchan Primary School Relocation

Location: Castletown, Isle of Man

Client: King Williams College

Architect: Wilson Mason

Structural Engineer: BB Consulting Engineers

PQS: Bell Burton Associates

Henry Bloom Noble Primary School

Sustainable MEP Design Enhancing Learning at Henry Bloom Noble High School

Delivering a comfortable, low-energy learning environment required a carefully considered MEP strategy that balanced efficiency, sustainability, and real-world usability. A key element was the integration of passive ventilation systems, including Windcatcher roof terminals, which harness natural airflow and the stack effect to minimise reliance on mechanical ventilation. Detailed thermal comfort analysis demonstrated that mechanical cooling was unnecessary, ensuring compliance with Building Bulletin 101 (BB101) while improving indoor air quality, supporting student concentration, and reducing airborne transmission risks. To assist staff in managing ventilation effectively, a CO₂ monitoring system with a traffic light indicator was incorporated, providing clear guidance on when windows should be opened—avoiding unnecessary heat loss in cooler months.

To meet the school’s heating demands, we designed a bivalent system combining air source heat pumps with gas boilers, providing efficient space heating and hot water while reducing carbon emissions. High-efficiency LED lighting was installed throughout, featuring scene-setting controls to allow teachers to tailor lighting levels for different activities, enhancing both comfort and learning outcomes. The data infrastructure was carefully designed to support smart teaching technologies, ensuring seamless integration of interactive whiteboards and other digital learning tools.

A Building Management System (BMS) was implemented not only to control HVAC and lighting but also to collect data for ongoing system optimisation. This aligned with a Soft Landings handover approach, working closely with the government’s estates team to fine-tune system performance based on real-world use. The school’s BREEAM certification reflects the high standards achieved in sustainability, energy efficiency, and operational performance, ensuring a future-proofed, low-carbon learning environment. This project is a key investment in the local community, delivering a high-performance school that provides a healthy and adaptable space for students and staff alike.

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Title: Henry Bloom Noble High School

Location: Douglas, Isle of Man

Client: Isle of Man Government

Architect: Savage & Chadwick

Structural Engineer: Curtins

PQS: Bell Burton Associates

Ballakermeen High School Post-16 Centre

For the new Post-16 extension at Ballakermeen High School, we focused on creating an inspiring environment suited to older students. A key feature of the design is the use of radiators with integrated ventilation systems, which operate on-demand based on real-time CO₂ readings. This ensures that teaching and study spaces remain fresh and well-ventilated, promoting comfort and concentration throughout the day.

Complementing these ventilation innovations, we installed efficient LED lighting to enhance visual comfort while managing energy consumption. We also rationalised the heating, domestic hot water, and public health services, integrating them under a unified controls platform. This allows facility managers to oversee and adjust the internal environment as needed, providing a flexible and future-ready space that supports effective learning.