Catherine Infant School has made headlines as one of the UK’s first carbon neutral schools, marking a significant milestone in sustainable education. The new 14 million institution, one of DfE’s School Rebuilding Programme, represents a significant step. The underlying goal of the project is to build the case for more modern learning environments, while shrinking carbon footprints in communities across the country.
That antiquated building came down in March. Now, a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility has replaced it, using innovative energy-saving technologies. The former school site has been transformed into vibrant play areas and sports pitches, promoting both physical activity and environmental awareness among students.
The new Catherine Infant School has some outstanding key features. Reap the rewards of air source heat pumps, solar panels and a whole house heat recovery system! New solar-powered wind catchers and a natural ventilation system maximize the building’s energy efficiency. These improvements enable the school to generate surplus electricity during the summer months. More importantly, they highlight the school’s deep commitment to sustainability.
Bill Flannigan, who managed the mill’s conversion into a school, said the nature of the school’s metamorphosis was emblematic.
“One of the first things we did was knock down the old school.” – Bill Flannigan
To celebrate its progress, the school held a “cut the gas” ceremony. PBS photo by Meg McCarthy Students were enthusiastic participants as students celebrated the cut of the last supply of gas.
“We had a cut the gas ceremony with all the kids which they really enjoyed. It was the last time there was any gas coming into the school.” – Bill Flannigan
The expanded facility features bigger classrooms, capable of housing 100 students at a time. It features a one-of-a-kind “jungle library” that fosters a colorful and inspiring space for learning, a world away from the crumbling former structure.
Mitesh Madhaw, a Corktown teacher at the school, told NBC 6 how thankful he was to have the new atmosphere.
“I feel very lucky, as do the teachers here, that we can teach in such a beautiful environment compared to our old school which was falling apart.” – Mitesh Madhaw
Galliford Try, the firm that managed the project’s two-year construction, did a great job integrating education and sustainability into one seamless project. The updated design replaces smaller windows with larger formats that fill classrooms with natural light without increasing energy use.
