Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School

A high-profile project, involving the unique new Sconnex® type W thermally insulating wall connection, is Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, just north of London.     

It is one of the UK’s leading independent boys' schools and sets exemplary standards, in both educational terms and in its facilities as well.   

Demonstrated by the new reinforced concrete extension to the Preparatory School, where cube_design architects were commissioned to produce a design for three additional classrooms and relocated changing facilities.   Jane Lock-Smith, the founder of cube_design and RIBA Client Design Advisor within the Building Schools for the Future programme, observes: “The design is respectful to the style of the existing building, but offers a contemporary twist through the use of full height glazing and charred timber cladding.  A colonnade also minimises the buildings footprint.   

Our detailing took into account that around 40% of all thermal bridges in a building are caused by walls and supports.   

The Schöck product offers an application-friendly, high-quality solution that contributes to a permanently sustainable building concept”.     

The outstanding insulation performance is combined with an excellent load bearing capacity, which transmits very high pressure, tensile and shear forces, both in the  longitudinal and transverse direction.  The ultra-high performance pressure buffer achieves compressive strength levels in excess of 175 N/mm2.  Sconnex® type W also achieves a significant cost reduction when compared with the installation of insulation beneath the floor slab.