News

Leading mechanical, electrical and FM contractor EIC has completed a £1.2m installation project on the new build sixth form centre at Uxbridge High School. Main contractor Leadbitter Group and architect ADP have now formally handed over The Lancaster Building to staff and students at the West London school.

The rebuild and refurbishment project was designed to upgrade facilities and provide local youngsters with a 21st century learning environment, with a sustainable edge, as part of the Government´s Building Schools for the Future programme. EIC, which has a strong record in the education sector, undertook a range of M&E works as part of a 25-week programme which finished in July.

The electrical installation involved exterior CCTV cameras, lighting controls and an intruder alarm system, all contributing to student and staff safety. Learning enhancements include integrated projectors with desktop control panels for teachers in each classroom. Under-floor heating has been installed in some areas while others are serviced with perimeter heating and ventilation, all controlled via an integrated building management system, along with lights activated by sensors which will switch off when the room is empty, and a climate-controlled reception area.

The design called for a series of sustainable technologies, measures which are becoming ever more important across the education sector. EIC engineers were responsible for delivering the designer´s vision which included the installation of photovoltaic solar panels and a 6kw wind turbine on the roof, both of which feed into the schools power supply.

The team also installed guttering, plumbing and tanks to enable the collection of rainwater, so called grey water harvesting. The water is collected in ground level tanks before being pumped to the roof and distributed around the building´s bathrooms and used to flush toilets.

Alongside this energy creation technology, the building also employs energy saving measures including passive infra red (PIR) sensors which detect the lux levels of external light sources and adjust the internal illumination to compensate, or even switch off lights when the room is empty.

In addition, a state-of-the-art heating and passive cooling system designed to reduce energy use has been installed in each of the eight new classrooms. A temperature and CO2 sensor enables simple management of heating and ventilation to cool rooms in the summer and circulate fresh air during the winter.

All these features have been left visible to provide students with a valuable learning experience in terms of their own carbon footprint. The school is also able to sell surplus electricity - collected at night during school holidays - back to the national grid.

Ian Lyall, joint managing director of EIC, said: "This has been a very exciting project for all involved and the result is an incredible building packed with clever features and sustainable solutions, creating a wonderful teaching and learning environment for the staff and students to enjoy."

"Once again the team has been able to demonstrate the depth of expertise in mechanical and electrical design and installation and, as ever, the experience gained here will be taken forward and benefit future clients both in the public and private sector."

Headquartered in Alcester, Warwickshire, EIC has regional offices across the UK. The company has completed a number of high profile education projects including Stockwell Park High School in Lambeth; Erith School in Kent; Orchard and Uplands Primary School in Bexley; City of London Academy; Crossways Academy; Alexander Park School; Watergate School; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; North East Worcester College; Mayville School Leytonstone; West Wycombe School; Oxford University´s Medical Sciences Teaching Centre and Le Rondin in Guernsey.