Bexley Business Academy in London is part of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) business academy programme. Buro Happold provided the engineering skills to construct the Academy, which has a site size of around 10,000m2. The project centred on the fact that these academies operate as mini campuses: they have the capacity for about 1,500 pupils and provide educational facilities, such as classrooms, as well as an auditorium, canteen and outside area.
As always with Buro Happold, the aim was to maximise energy efficiency through the use of careful design and advanced technology. The building is fitted with external louvre shades which have an energy reduction function; they track the sun's movement to provide good shading as well as grey-out. Natural ventilation and the use of thermal mass (using exposed concrete slabs) allows passive regulation of the building's temperature. Staff are able to activate overnight ventilation to pre-cool classrooms during summer. The external shades can be closed to provide additional security for the academy without interrupting the flow of cooling air.
Date: 2001 - 2003
