Education
Rugby School
How we helped:
- Heat loss modelling
- Building fabric optimisation
Founded in 1567, Rugby School is one of the oldest independent schools in the UK and is the birthplace of the game of rugby.
Rugby School is one that aspires to excellence and work has been completed on the stunning Whitelaw Boarding House to further improve the experience for students.
Mesh engineers reviewed and refined a range of building fabric improvements to simplify the options for the Estates Team, to help them to understand the practical feasibility, key economic considerations, and long-term benefits of a final strategy.
A listed building dating back to the 19th Century, Whitelaw House is one of the School’s largest and oldest standing boarding houses, with the first dormitory block constructed in 1874.
This is the focal point for the ongoing remodelling work, the goal of which is to increase room sizes, allow a better flow for students through the building, as well as improved accessibility and energy efficiency. The building will also be extended into the courtyard.
Improving energy efficiency in a listed building is a challenge, as the usable space can be limited, and many elements cannot be changed.
To address this, Mesh was approached by the school’s estates team to complete a Fabric Optimisation Study. All elements of the building fabric were considered, as well as various material options, with a large emphasis on wall insulation for which breathability was a key factor.
With the implementation of recommended improvements to the external wall and both pitched and flat roof insulation, the new and improved rooms have a higher comfort level, with a difference of several degrees in bedrooms and common rooms, as well as an associated 25 per cent energy cost reduction for the school.
Image credits: Rugby School | GSS Architecture
