St Pancras School, Lewes

Architect: BBM Sustainable Design

Client: Dioceses of Chichester

Contract value: £330k

Construction of a new sustainable Art and Science extension. The project was deemed so innovative that it attracted the attention of the governments’ DfES Innovation Unit who awarded the school  £15,000. This money allowed pupils to film and document the design and construction process of this new building. Together with a local film-maker this information was used to create an interactive CD ROM which was distributed to all primary schools in England and Wales. The CD documented the construction of this innovative low-impact school extension that has been designed to act as a learning aid during construction and beyond.

The construction  utilised benign materials, sourced locally. These include locally grown sweet chestnut for the ‘glu-lam’ structure (the first of its kind in the world we believe), sustainably-managed cedar shingles (from The Duchy of Cornwall Estate), sheep’s wool insulation and non-toxic paints for a healthy internal environment. Even the timbers use to construct partition walls were treated with a non-toxic insect/ fungus repellent. The scheme also utilises one of the first ground source heat pumps used in a school building in the UK.

The building opened in January 2006. There was an official naming ceremony in May 2006 attended by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall as St Pancras School was short-listed for 2006 Observer Ethical Award.