Kingsgate School is a new build primary school in West Hampstead, London, and is part of the wider Liddell Road development. The school comprises of two cross laminated timber buildings connected with a covered walkway. The design of the school echoes the industrial heritage of the site with south facing pitched roofs with vertical northlights.
Due to the site location next to an existing railway, careful attention has been made to the acoustic treatment of all aspects of the school including the services design. No operable windows or ventilation openings can face the railway meaning all classrooms are provided with mechanical ventilation throughout the year with heat recovery and variable speed fans. Provision has been made in the summer to open up the façades facing the playground via acoustic vents to allow the supply fans to be disabled and save energy.
The services design is finely coordinated with the cross laminated timber structure to ensure that a high quality of internal finish is achieved with all sockets and electrical accessories recessed into the walls and attenuated ventilation units incorporated into the joinery within each classroom.
Photovoltaic panels are incorporated into the south facing roof elements of the larger building, and provision has been made for future connection to the Liddell Road site-wide district heating system.
