- ARCHITECT: van Heyningen and Haward (vHH)
- MAIN CONTRACTOR: Morgan Sindall Construction
- SECTOR: Education
- PRODUCT: PAVADRY insulation
A unique and innovative Soprema insulation specification provided a durable and robust solution to bring a historic landmark to life and create a state-of-the-art secondary school for pupils in Rugby, Warwickshire.
The Project
Soprema has helped to restore a Grade II Listed former radio station building in Rugby and transform it into a sustainable, distinctive and state-of-the-art secondary school.
Houlton School, located within the former Rugby Radio Station, has emerged as a critical component in the establishment of a thriving new community. It is part of the Houlton development, which will see developer Urban & Civic (U&C) deliver 6,200 homes alongside neighbourhood and community facilities.
The Grade II-listed transmitter building, formerly known as C Station, sits at the heart of a developing mini-town, named Houlton to commemorate the first transatlantic call made from the radio station, which was to a receiver site in Houlton, Maine, in 1927.
With a vision to address the shortage of secondary school places and revitalise the listed building at the heart of Houlton, U&C undertook the monumental task of restoring the former radio station building, which dates back to 1925, and create a state-of-the-art secondary school on its site.
The new educational campus at Houlton School includes a main teaching block with a grand entrance and dining hall within the listed former power hall, capable of accommodating more than 1,000 students. In addition, two separate blocks were constructed for STEM and Humanities subjects, along with a Sport England compliant sports hall with dance, acting and fitness studios. It also features a new communications centre, fully resourced with a library and professional radio and television broadcasting station in homage to the legacy of the site.
Challenges and Objectives
The initial plan was to demolish the historic Rugby Radio Station to make way for the residential development. However, recognising the need for a secondary school in the area, developer U&C approached the Department for Education (DfE) to secure funding and repurpose the radio station as a school. This bold proposal required overcoming several challenges, including the preservation of the listed building, industrial space constraints, contamination issues and insulation challenges.
Innovative Solutions and Collaboration
U&C and the design team, led by architects van Heyningen and Haward (vHH), worked closely with Morgan Sindall Construction, appointed under an PCSA from RIBA stage 2, and their specialist supply chain to address the project’s complexity. By involving the supply chain, which included Soprema, during the design phase, all parties were able to mitigate risks and engage in value engineering exercises. Careful pre-application negotiations and intrusive examinations before the listed building consent applications were submitted ensured compliance with the DfE’s standard output specification, balancing the preservation of the historic fabric with the requirements of a modern educational facility.
The design of Houlton School prioritised a fabric-first approach, focusing on the building envelope’s quality and energy efficiency. The integration of Passivhaus software and thermal modelling enabled optimised insulation and improved performance.
vHH specified Soprema’s PAVADRY insulation solution – a natural and ecological, innovative thermal insulation board based on wood fibre, bonded with hardboard and a lime-plaster parge coat.
The integrated air barrier provided by the moisture-open parge coat, together with the hygroscopic properties of the wood fibre and careful repair of the historic brickwork, ensured a controlled moisture transport which prevents the formation of damaging moisture. This characteristic makes PAVADRY the ideal insulation board to prevent the trapping of moisture within the historic fabric and was crucially important for the project to protect the original features of the building, and future-proof the structure for years to come.
Successful Outcomes
Despite facing the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the Houlton School project was delivered on time, within the £39m budget, and achieved a perfect 10/10 client satisfaction rating.
The innovative funding arrangement with the DfE enabled the school to commence operations years ahead of schedule, addressing the urgent need for secondary school places in the community.
Houlton School is an inspiring example of an elegant and creative retrofit, proving that almost any kind of repurposing is possible with a historic structure. It serves as a vibrant, bustling educational facility, is a centrepiece for the community and celebrates the historical significance of Rugby Radio, retaining a legacy for a globally significant heritage asset.
The insulation specification and installation, backed by Soprema’s team of technical experts and guided by hands-on expertise from design stage onwards, exemplifies a successful synergy between historic preservation and modern development.
In the construction phase of the project, architects vHH were novated to Morgan Sindall Construction, de-risking the inevitable discoveries in the fabric of the old building by using the strong working relationships established with the supply chain and suppliers. Working closely with DCL, the drylining and plastering subcontractor, individual solutions were examined and finalised to accommodate tricky details within the building, especially around the historic steel frame members that are half enclosed within the masonry.
Through effective collaboration, careful planning, and meticulous attention to detail, Morgan Sindall Construction and its partners and suppliers, including vHH, DCL and Soprema, have delivered an inspirational, aesthetically beautiful, sensitively restored modern facility that caters to the educational needs of a burgeoning community.
The restoration and repurposing of the radio station into Houlton School stands as a testament to the dedication of the entire supply chain and delivery partners, resulting in a project that has received widespread acclaim including wins at the Construction News Awards, Planning Awards, RICS Awards, Spaces Awards and Developer Magazine and Festival of Place Pineapples Awards 2022.
Josh McCosh, Partner at van Heyningen and Haward Architects, said:
“Transforming the thermal envelope of C Station was a fundamental requirement of the Houlton School project. By using the Pavatex suite of products from Soprema, and with their technical support, we were able to deliver hugely improved air tightness and insulation to the building without damaging its solid brickwork facades, and thus secure the DfE and Historic England’s support for the retrofit. The school is delighted with the facilities, and the heritage of the Radio Station is now preserved for all at the heart of Houlton.”
The Houlton School won the following awards in 2022:
- Best Use of Heritage in Placemaking, Planning Awards 2022
- Project of the Year (£20m – £50m), Construction News Awards 2022
- Creative Retrofit, The Developer Magazine and Festival of Place Pineapples Awards 2022
- UK Regional Winner, Refurbishment/Revitalisation Project, RICS Awards 2022
- Education category, SPACES Awards 2022