Cringleford Prep Primary School

Cringleford Prep Primary School is a new 2FE, 420-pupil primary school in Cringleford on the southern outskirts of Norwich.

The school sits within a large new housing estate which was being developed by three developers during the construction of the school. Regular engagement with the developers was essential to ensure deliveries and progress were unhindered by access or logistical issues. Regular face-to-face and newsletter engagement with residents was also important to keep them up to date with our activity and progress.

The two-storey building is 2,380 sqm and includes a reception, library, sports hall/dining hall, 14 classrooms, a MUGA, a habitat area, ornamental planting and 9,550 sqm of grass playing fields which were seeded and established as part of the first stage to ensure it was ready for the September 2024 intake of pupils.

The building is comprised of a piled substructure, steel frame and precast concrete floors. The facade is a mixture of traditional brickwork with mint green glazed feature panels. Internally the building has painted plasterboard walls and the ceilings are a combination of lay-in grids, suspended ceilings and exposed concrete soffits with acoustic rafts.

Sustainability is a key aspect of this new building which incorporates Breathing Building Units which use a ventilation system to reduce energy consumption by combining natural and mechanical ventilation and reducing heat loss / gain through the fabric of a building. Intelligent units are incorporated into the building’s fabric and monitor internal and external conditions (temperature and CO2 levels) to automatically regulated airflow, minimising the need for energy-intensive mechanical systems. Underfloor heating. PV panels, air source heat pumps and motion-sensor lighting are fitted throughout.