The school in Daniel Gardens, South London is the first project to be delivered by Southwark Council’s local education partnership, 4 Futures, and is designed to be ‘sensory’ through the use of texture, sound and light to aide students’ independence. All elements of the school, from the one-storey design, to the external cladding and materials used are tactile and chosen to assist students and improve their experience at the school.
Emprose worked in close proximity with Ash & Lacy from the beginning of the project and the schedule for the build remained on track, despite difficulties imposed by treacherous weather conditions. In total, 4000 square metres of metal deck was supplied by Ash & Lacy, of which 2400 square metres was used under the flat roof and remaining 1600 square metres was used under the standing seam element.
Tuke School features a Green Roof – an area where Ash & Lacy have particular expertise having supplied the roof for the award-winning Adnams Distribution Centre in Southwold. One of the factors that led Ash & Lacy to be specified for the project was due, in part, to the company’s ‘green credentials’. Ash & Lacy has developed a grade of AshZip specifically engineered for the purpose of supporting sedum roofs and as such the sustainability and the school’s green technology aspirations were exceeded.
Tuke School’s mission statement is ‘Learning Everywhere, Inspiring Everyone’ and the school building needed to embrace this sentiment. The teaming of Ash & Lacy’s AshZip standing seam together with the greenroof technology allowed the school to remain true to its aim to be sustainable.
Trevor Leach of Emprose Specialist Cladding comments: ‘The Ash and Lacy standing seam and green roof system went together like a meccano kit as the whole team took on board the special requirements advised by Ash & Lacy at the outset of the project’.
Headteacher Heidi Tulley comments: ‘Not only have levels of challenging behaviour from the students reduced since moving to the new building, staff are using the space much more frequently out of school hours. As well as work-related activities, they are meeting for coffee and setting up swimming and fitness clubs after school. We feel this is because the school was planned with the students and staff in mind and as such the new building meets their needs completely. The space fulfils our mission statement and inspires everyone, students and staff alike’.