Baxall Construction, a Kent-based construction solutions contractor currently working with the University of Kent through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), has secured Department for Education contracts to deliver two of the South East’s first net zero in operation schools.
The company has designed and will build the £5.7 million new St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Deal and the £8.4m Iqra VA Primary School in London. They will build both state-of-the art schools using a ‘fabric first’ approach optimised to provide high levels of insulation and air tightness and maximise sustainability. The buildings will also feature Air Source Heat Pumps, roof mounted photovoltaics (solar panels) and LED lighting, as well as green roofs and sustainable drainage systems.
This isn’t the first time Baxall have proven their commitment to providing smart solutions for the built environment. In September 2021, they secured funding from Innovate UK with the University of Kent for a 24-month KTP – believed to be an industry first for the built environment. Working alongside Kent academics, Baxall are developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven data analytics framework using data related to the construction process, and utilising ‘smart monitoring’ sensors to assess the operation of buildings alongside occupancy performance data.
Pre-Construction Director, Andrew Baldwin, says of the partnership, “The KTP has provided a fantastic opportunity for Baxall and the University of Kent to work as a collaborative team towards our objective of developing a data analytics framework for intelligent building performance modelling. We have been actively monitoring buildings using room sensors for over a year now and the project is making significant progress towards our objectives. The opportunity for academia and business to work together has been extremely positive and we are looking forward to continuing this relationship beyond the end of the KTP.”
This KTP is supported by an interdisciplinary academic team; Dr Fernando Otero and Dr Christos Efstratiou from the School of Computing and Professor Marialena Nikolopoulou based within the School of Architecture and Planning. They are working closely with Dr Ismail Alarab, recruited to project manage the KTP, to embed the knowledge and expertise gained throughout the KTP into the organisation.
The KTP is due to complete in September 2024, with the completion of the Net Zero school buildings in April 2024. Baxall are exploring whether the new sensor technology developed through the KTP can be used to enhance the efficiency of the new school buildings.
At the University of Kent, we have a 100% success rate in securing KTP funding from Innovate UK to help businesses innovate, grow and build lasting relationships with our academics. Visit our website to find out how you can access our wealth of academic knowledge, technology and skills with funding from Innovate UK via a KTP.