Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
Efficient
The project reduces embodied carbon primarily through conservation and material reuse rather than relying on new low-carbon materials. Strategies include:
- Retention and renovation of the 1957 school building instead of demolition.
- Preservation of the existing structural frame.
- Circular demolition and reuse of existing masonry bricks.
- Restoration of the granito staircase.
- Restoration of exposed concrete beams and columns.
- Timber-frame facade construction.
- Glulam structural system for the sports hall.
- Durable facade materials with long service life.
- Mechanical fixing of timber cladding for future reuse.
Operational Emissions / Energy
Efficient
Operational reductions are achieved through:
- Compliance with Dutch BENG requirements.
- Internal insulation.
- Triple-glazed windows.
- Air handling unit (AHU).
- Photovoltaic panels.
- Battery energy storage.
- Improved building envelope.
- Reuse of the existing structure, reducing lifecycle energy demand.
Service and maintenance emissions
Efficient
The project reduces maintenance-related emissions through:
- Restoration instead of replacement of original materials.
- Durable aluminium window frames.
- Durable Equitone fibre cement façade panels.
- Thermally modified timber cladding with long service life.
- Mechanically fixed timber façade boards allowing selective replacement.
- Repair of existing masonry rather than reconstruction.
- Preservation of concrete structure.
Afterlife
Adaptive Reuse and Flexible Design Considerations
Adaptive reuse forms the basis of the project. The existing school remains in use following renovation and energy upgrades. Flexible learning spaces can accommodate changing educational methods and future programmatic changes without major structural modifications.
Disassemblable Elements for Circular Economy
Several components of the new building were designed with circular principles in mind. The strategies include:
- Reuse of existing bricks.
- Preservation of structural concrete.
- Restoration of original building elements.
- Steel structure designed for disassembly.
- Timber structure designed for future reuse.
- Mechanically fixed timber façade boards.
- Repair-first approach for existing components.
Key products in low carbon design
CO2
Heraklith (homogeneous wood wo...
Heraklith
CO2
Douglas Wood Facade Cladding
Leegwater
Share or Add Kromme Rijn College to your Collections