Maldon College

The aim of the project was to:

• Provide facilities for education and training local residents
• Increase district student numbers and job prospects through training in vocational skills leading to NVQs
• Provide suitable facilities for all, including pupils in years 10 and 11 and people of working age
• Educate and train through two providers – Colchester Institute and Essex County Council Adult Community Learning
• Help local employers to provide on-the-job training also complemented by the new training centre

Facilities provided include:

• Beauty and hairdressing studios
• Motor vehicle maintenance workshop
• Bricklaying workshop
• Printing, decorating, multi-skill construction workshop ICT Suites
• Creche, catering and administration

Rolton Group was appointed to provide detailed design proposals for the civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and sustainable low/zero carbon engineering. We were also appointed as BREEAM assessors. The building is now used as an educational resource; students can monitor the amount of renewable energy being produced, using meters throughout the school and the use of roof platforms that house PV/SHWP technologies.

The development incorporates ground source heat pumps and solar hot water panels mounted on the south-facing roofs. The building has 20 per cent less CO2emissions compared to a Building Regulations 2006-compliant building.

The project was assessed under the BREEAM Education 2008 scheme and achieved a rating of 'Excellent'.