Pinhoe Combined School was opened in September 2006. The culmination of a two year programme, the new building was designed by Grainge Architects Ltd, and built by Cowlin Construction. From the outset, the brief for the new school was anchored in sustainable best practice and the need for the teaching, learning and working spaces of the highest quality. Comfortable, low energy classrooms are focused on learning and inspiration. As well as creating positive teaching spaces, the buildings and landscape are designed to minimise their use of energy and resources yet be welcoming and adaptable for all seasons of the year. They support pupils and teachers alike, helping each individual make the most of their time at the schools by minimising distraction and discomfort from temperature or light. The low-energy design of the school utilises three main strategies: • Natural ventilation to all spaces, controllable by users and able to respond rapidly without the need for air conditioning, even in IT rooms that have very high ambient heat levels. • A thermally massive structure absorbs excess heat during the day in summer months and releases it at night and in winter months. This traditional approach helps to maintain an even range of temperatures inside the school. • Natural daylight to internal spaces. Roof lights, as well striking aesthetically, throw day light into all classrooms, minimising the energy requirement of artificial light and creating a high level of natural light – the best type of light for learning environments. Grainge Architects approach to sustainable design extends beyond low energy. Pinhoe School roof is the first of the new schools in the area to incorporate a biodiverse environment, with wildflowers, lichens and nesting habitats, on a layer of low fertility soils and aggregate. Integral to the construction is a foam drainage layer made from recycled trainer soles. This is laid over a mat that holds moisture and a long-life waterproof membrane with high levels of insulation supported by the roof deck. This ”living roof “ is very much part of the overall landscaping of the site The quality of the internal spaces is evident from the plans and section enclosed: A sinuous corridor snakes through the school, creating curved, gentle spaces in classrooms and common areas. The main stair is a graceful, top lit space that expresses its function with movement and feeling. The classrooms themselves each have a sense of individual “place”, with dedicated cloakroom and external gardens serving the teaching areas. Suspended ceilings have been eliminated in favour of clearly expressed structure. Exeter University advised on acoustic characteristics, which attained a very high standard, as a teaching space must do to achieve excellence. Feedback from teachers, parents and pupils has been excellent. Grainge Architects are proud of the success of the design.