Children attending the new £3.4m Glenpark Early Learning Centre (ELC) in Greenock benefit from plenty of natural light and ventilation thanks to VELUX Modular Skylights with built-in blinds.
Glenpark, completed in summer 2018, provides 100 places for 3-4 year olds and eligible two year olds around the Greenock area, west of Glasgow.
A commitment by the Scottish Government to increase free early learning and childcare hours available in Scotland from 600 to 1,140 per year by 2020 proved to be the catalyst for creating this inspiring new development.
Glenpark, developed by Glasgow-based main contractor CCG, is on the site of the former Greenock Academy. It is part of Inverclyde Council’s £270 million schools estate programme.
Natural light has been shown to have a positive effect on the psychological wellbeing of children in terms of mood, security and behaviour. In fact, Professor Peter Barrett in his ‘Clever Classrooms’ study found that daylight and ventilation can increase children’s learning capacity by up to 8%. Having good natural light and ventilation in a learning environment is also recognised as being beneficial to children with autism spectrum disorder.
Hardly surprising then that The Scottish Government (2017), Health and Social Care Standards states that natural light and fresh air should be available in all main rooms used by children. And of course, they are beneficial to the wellbeing of staff, too.
The Scottish Government’s; ‘Space to Grow’ report, states specifically that:
- Natural light should be within the playrooms used by children.
- Natural light should be in as many areas as possible throughout the premises.
- All opportunities for maximising natural light should be taken.
It was felt that the most effective method of accessing these benefits at Glenpark was through the use of rooflights.
The designers had to factor in that many children currently sleep or rest for a period during their time within a setting. With the expansion to 1,140 hours per year, it is likely that more children may attend for a longer day. That means more will sleep during the day. A consequence of this was the need to provide skylight shading in what would be a naturally lit interior.
Holmes Miller Architects therefore had to ensure that both children and staff could access the benefits of natural light and ventilation, whilst identifying an easy mechanism to control glare and provide shade.
Following careful evaluation, Holmes Miller Architects specified VELUX Modular Skylights because of two unique features of the system:
- In-built blinds - provide efficient, reliable shade that is easy to control using the VELUX INTEGRA system
- Tight in plane solution of the VELUX Northlight – fitting closer to the roof means less outward protrusion, creating a slimmer aesthetic
The architects preferred the VELUX system, too, because it is modular, so reduces installation time on site – they can be fitted up to three times faster than a traditional installation, creating a quicker weathertight seal.
Once the skylight system had been selected, the architects specified:
- 29 VELUX Modular Skylight units split over seven northlight banks within a 35° slate roof.
- Integrated blinds (pre-fitted in the factory).
- 1400mm long units in a variety of widths.
- Light solar shading specified for the glass.
VELUX worked with Baker Hicks, the M&E contractors, to identify a solution to control the actuators that open and close the skylight to allow natural ventilation, as well as shade levels through the in-built factory fitted blinds. Venting modules and blinds are controlled by the VELUX INTEGRA system.
VELUX INTEGRA is a revolutionary remote-controlled, integrated blind system that offers:
- Smooth direct drive – remote control as well as rain and wind sensors.
- Whisper quiet motors - opens and closes blinds without disturbing occupants.
- Tested to 13,500 cycles - precision engineered, long life.
- Installed in minutes – simply click into place in the pre-mounted brackets.
Skylight International the VELUX installation partner, was awarded the sub-contract to supply and install the Modular Skylights.