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:
Title: The Buchan Primary School Relocation
Location: Castletown, Isle of Man
Client: King Williams College
Architect: Wilson Mason
Structural Engineer: BB Consulting Engineers