As the UK works to reduce its carbon emissions, there has been an increased demand for new education buildings utilising the Passivhaus standard or improved Fabric First approach. This, along with Metal Technology’s commitment to creating a sustainable built environment, has led to the development of our Passivhaus-compliant systems. 

Metal Technology has vast experience in supplying its architectural aluminium systems for a wide range of universities, colleges, schools and student accommodation developments. The company continues to lead the way in high insulation, low air permeability glazing systems in the education sector, supplying its Passive House range of windows, doors and curtain walling for a significant number of primary and secondary education projects.

We have therefore become a valued single supplier for such projects, priding ourselves on our diligent, proactive support of stakeholders and providing high level technical guidance throughout. In turn, the company has become a trusted partner of fabricators, developers, contractors and architects. 

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St Columba’s RC High School and Woodmill High School (part of the new Dunfermline Learning Campus) were designed by AHR Architects and delivered by BAM UK & Ireland. This high school development is currently the largest UK Passive House education facility at over 26,000m². The schools form part of AHR’s and Fife Council’s journey to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. 

Metal Technology, with approved fabricator NetZero Facades Ltd, were heavily involved in the design process by working in collaboration with BAM UK & Ireland and AHR Architects. Metal Technology’s Passive House certified System 5-45 Hi+ Inward Opening Windows and System 17 Hi+ Curtain Walling were installed in the development - both high performance products have been purposefully designed to meet the required Passivhaus energy efficiency criteria and have been installed in the development to great success, achieving an airtightness test of 0.45 m3/hr @ 50Pa.

Metal Technology assisted in developing optimal window configurations for classrooms that could accommodate specific ventilation requirements, and developed feature 300mm cappings to its curtain walling system to meet the designer’s shading needs for the façade system. Metal Technology’s high performance systems are designed to perform seamlessly together to deliver the desired aesthetic and performance standards and further products installed in this exemplar campus include System 5-20D Hi+ Doors, System 23 Louvres and LV023 Barrier Grilles.

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Designed by Hamilton Architects LLP and built by Tracey Brothers Ltd, Erne Campus at South West College in Enniskillen, N. Ireland was the world’s first educational Passivhaus Premium building and the first non-domestic Passivhaus Premium in the UK. Metal Technology played an intrinsic role in the design process of this £29m education facility and Mullarkey Pedersen Architects were the lead Passivhaus design team on the project - the result is a world class, award-winning environmental building that is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and energy efficient buildings. Furthermore, Erne Campus has been recognised as a UN Centre of Excellence for High Performance buildings.

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Metal Technology also supplied its high performance glazing systems, including its Passive House systems, for Scotland’s first Passivhaus Primary School, Riverside Primary School in North Perth. Built in the grounds of North Muirton Primary School, Riverside accommodates pupils from both North Muirton and Balhousie Primary School. Designed by Architype and delivered by Robertson Construction, the school opened its doors in June 2023, accommodating 500 pupils and also includes a nursery and additional support needs (ASN) provision.

Metal Technology worked with the design teams to ensure full compliance with Passivhaus standards which involved high level and technical engagement, and provided technical detail to evidence the exacting performance requirements for the windows and curtain walling. This technical detail was further developed to enable innovation through the introduction of a slimmer mullion profile to be designed and installed, which resulted in an enhancement in the natural daylight available in each classroom.

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Metal Technology supplied its Passive House certified glazing products via fabricator Avtek Ltd, for Montgomerie Park Primary School in Irvine, Scotland, to help meet the development’s rigorous energy efficiency standards. The new £21m school accommodates 342 pupils, providing the highest levels of thermal comfort and healthy indoor air conditions.

The school was designed by JM Architects with ECD Architects as Passivhaus Consultants, and delivered by Robertson Group for North Ayrshire Council on behalf of Hub South West Scotland. As part of the council’s ambitious net-zero drive, Montgomerie Park is the first Passivhaus school in the region, which will use 60-80% less energy than a typical school building, resulting in lower carbon emissions and lower operational costs.

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Further Passive House projects currently being developed include: Currie Community High School and Wester Hailes High School in Edinburgh; East End Campus and Drumgeith Community Campus & Greenfield Academy in Dundee; Monifieth Learning Campus in Angus; Perth High School; Faifley Community Campus in Clydebank; Paisley Grammar School; South West Fife High School and more education facilities in the pipeline.

Extending beyond the education sector, Metal Technology’s Passive House aluminium glazing systems are also being installed at the new, state-of-the-art Blairgowrie Recreation Centre, Scotland’s first Passive House leisure facility.

Visit - https://www.metaltechnology.com/passive-house/

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