Dartington C.of E. Primary School, Devon, Building Performance Evaluation

The project consists of a full Post Completion Building Performance Study of a recently completed new building for a local authority primary school on the outskirts of Totnes in Devon. Dartington C.E. Primary school is an innovative ‘green’ design by White Design. It features a structural timber panel system and off-site construction, arranged as four self separate ‘clusters’ of accommodation. The classrooms feature an ‘oast house’ type roof structure with excellent daylight and advanced lighting controls. Heating is by underfloor heating and an air to water heat pump in classrooms and gas boiler in the main administration building. The school employs a hybrid ventilation system with natural ventilation through windows during warm weather and mechanical ventilation using heat recovery units in cold weather . The study comprises an ‘Arup Gold Appraise’ analysis together with an Arup Building Use Study (BUS) questionnaire to review energy use, water and occupant satisfaction and advice on how the school can better use energy and water. The study is being carried out over two years.