Caulmert has been chosen to oversee the construction of a new net-zero school in North Wales and will reuse materials from the previous site to enhance sustainability
Caulmert made a deal with Cyngor Gwynedd to oversee civil and structural work on the new net-zero Community Campus in Bontnewydd near Caernarfon.
The school will receive £12m from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge. The money will be used to install new community facilities on campus, such as a hall, office space, and EV charging points.
The net-zero school will be built with reused materials
The site currently features two buildings: a former Victorian school building which now serves as a community centre, and the original 1970s Ysgol Bontnewydd building.
Materials from both buildings will be reused to build the net-zero school.
Caulmert has surveyed the school site to see what can be reused before any demolition works take place. The research will help inform Caulmert’s BIM team on the project.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Cyngor Gwynedd again, they are a great client, and we enjoyed working with them on the £9m new Ysgol Y Garnedd project in Bangor. A key element of this project will focus on minimising carbon emissions for the construction process, keeping sustainability front of mind,” said David High, an associate at Caulmert.
“We welcome the opportunity to be part of such a pioneering scheme, a new net zero school in North Wales, which will no doubt set a precedent for other institutions in the region,” he added.
The project will use renewable energy and local materials in construction
Cyngor Gwynedd will use a range of renewable energy to build the net-zero school and will utilise surplus local materials.
The firm will also use the nearby Afon Gwyrfai River to provide hydroelectric power and water source heat pumps.
“Bontnewydd Community Campus is an exciting and innovative opportunity for us all. The Welsh government has challenged us to demonstrate our vision for sustainable construction and community involvement in school construction,” commented Richard Farmer, project manager at Cyngor Gwynedd.
“Both the design process and the final building will be exemplars, and we are pleased to welcome Caulmert to the team,” he concluded.
