Taking the long view Hilary Roome continues her look at practical applications of sustainable development in the historic environment Conversionof NortonParkSchool, Edinburgh,by Burnett PollockAssociates,for theAlbion Trust.Casestudy2 The conversion of Norton Park School in Leith, Edinburgh, completed in summer 1998, is a project briefed by the objectives of sustainable development. The project for offices and community centre arose from a 1991 review of the needs of the area's voluntary and charity sector. The main problem highlighted was the inadequate accommodation which the individual organisations rented, with poor conditions, unexpected maintenance bills, high running costs and poor accessibility for people with physical disabilities. Lothian Regional Council was able to suggest using one of its many redundant schools. Norton Park School was in use as workshops and storage with inadequate income to cover running costs, putting the building's future at risk. The school, which lies in an area of high social disadvantage, was built around 1900 and is of considerable historic interest and local cultural significance. The Albion Trust was specially founded to realise the project and eventually run the centre. It is a charity with the objectives of sustainable development at the core of its activities "so as to maximise the overall social, economic and environment benefit to the wider community". The £3.S million funding came from many sources, each recognising different benefits from the project: HLF, Historic Scotland, Urban Aid, LloydsTSB Foundation, National Lotteries Charity Board, Scottish Office, and others. Historic Scotland was involved in close discussions. Its primary aim was not to compromise the historic external appearance of the building by the conversion. Secondly, it negotiated on retention of internal finishes, principally the tiles in the corridors, wainscot walls, skirtings and timber floors in the classrooms. Potential consultants and contractors were all assessed for soundness with regard to employment, community and environmental practices. Theconversion The spatial re-planning of the building created an open and modern reception 34 Conversionof Norton PorkSchool,Edinburgh.New rear rompedaccess.designaestheticinfluencedby HLFadviser! area at the pivot of the building. Here are located front and rear entrances, with ramped access and a lift to all floors. Looking clown the traditional school corridor, with windows into the classrooms, the carpeted floor and the 'shop signs' outside each door are all that give the game away! The insertion of mezzanines into each classroom is designed to increase the lettable floor space by 25%. The essence of the conversion is modern. Timber 'Glulam' beams creating the mezzanines, with steel and glass balustrades allowing the passage of light to the back of the room, fix the design firmly in the late 20th The insertion of mezzanines into each classroom is designed to increase the lettable floor space by25%. century. The spaces newly created are so low, busy with balustrades, stairs and office paraphernalia, that the original classrooms' spatial qualities are subservient to the new function. The materials are, in the main, substantial and of good quality and are therefore in keeping with the solid construction of the school. The exception that proves the rule is the rear entrance, where the proposed 'contempora1y' design unfo1tunately succumbed to pressures to revert to pastiche 'classicism'. The classroom windows are unaltered in height, but the addition of internal secondary glazing brought to mind the traditional practice of countries with cold winters such as Switzerland. The secondary glazing incorporates ve1y high specification doubled glazed units, achieving a ve1y low Uvalue of 0.9 W/m2 K. The methodology for meeting objectives of environmental protection and resource management was to carry out an environmental audit on the specification, seeking improvements where possible. New materials were specified as elements of one material alone, not as factory-made composite components, so that the new structure and fabric can be disassembled for reuse or recycling, ifnot repairable. As a renewable, low-embodied-energy material, softwood timber was chosen as the primary introduced material, followed by steel and glass, both reusable and easily recyclable, with good salvage infrastructure in existence. To reduce the risk of the wood coming from unmanaged forests, redwood was specified, being easily recognised and mainly grown in well managed plantations. Evidently, the project architect was dubious about the reliability of the Forest Stewardship Ce1tification scheme. Toxic processes and elements were avoided or restricted to the essential, such as fireproofing. Therefore, timberwas used untreated against rot and insect attack but the environmental conditions were made favourable for good timber health. During the contract, demolition material was sorted for reuse by others and recycling. Building Control accepted 'environmentally friendly' materials, as long as Context65 March2000
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