​Appointment 

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Mechanical, electrical and public health building services engineering design to RIBA Stage 4 for a BREEAM Very Good new build early years school, comprising teaching facilities with sports/multi-use hall, plant and welfare areas and rooftop play area, on behalf of Renaker Build Ltd.

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​Description

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The first school to open in Manchester City Centre for nearly twenty years, Crown Street Primary School opened its doors to Reception and Pre-School pupils for the first time in September 2024. The 210 pupil plus 26 nursery place school is a unique building with four floors and a rooftop playground, a first in Manchester since the early 1900's, and a design which mirrors schools found in London and New York. The School forms part of Phase C of the Crown Street Phase 2 Development and the site forms part of the Great Jackson Street regeneration area situated between Silvercroft Street, Crown Street and the Mancunian Way, and is flanked by the stunning residential towers of Elizabeth Tower and The Blade.

 

We designed a two stage heat pump system to provide the heating and hot water requirements to the school. A primary Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) condenser is located on the roof, which, produces low grade hot water serving underfloor heating manifolds, Monodraught mixed mode ventilation unit heater batteries and a second stage water to water heat pump which provides medium grade hot water to a hot water cylinder. This electric only type of system has been selected rather than high efficiency gas fired boilers, due to the Manchester City Council requirements for “alternative fuels to gas for primary boilers such as hydrogen / fuel cell based boiler technologies, heat pumps etc.”

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Project Team

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Developer and Contractor: Renaker

Architect: Arkilab

Concept Architect: SimpsonHaugh

Structural Engineer: DeSimone

Sustainability: Element Sustainability

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