3 minute read
Sustainability in Education, Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai
Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai has been named ‘Energy Project of the Year’ and is the first BREEAM rated project, as well as the first nearly zero energy school in the Middle East
Advertisement
By: Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai
The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai’s innovative approach to education and eco-friendly, sustainable design is already earning the school prestigious awards in the Middle East. Before the school has even officially opened its doors, the global construction company, Multiplex, who are responsible for the build of the campus, beat numerous nominations from across the GCC and MENA region to be awarded the Energy Project of the Year award at the latest Big Project Middle East Awards.
Setting the standard for educators to put sustainability at the forefront of everything they do, the school’s forward-thinking approach to clean energy, and strong emphasis on sustainability, is in line with the UAE’s environmental and sustainability construction goals. The campus has been designed to utilise eco-friendly design modifications that ensure that the building is a sustainable hub, as well as mitigating the effects of climate change.
The school is working towards opening its impressive campus at Majid Al Futtaim’s flagship Dubai community, Tilal Al Ghaf, in September this year, and although the Royal Grammar School Guildford is one of Britain’s oldest independent schools, it is revolutionary in its thinking and beliefs about sustainability. Having lived in the Middle East for over 14 years, and witnessing the developments of the city’s sustainability efforts, Founding Principal, Craig Lamshed is a strong advocate for the school’s sustainability efforts.
“Climate change and sustainability aren’t just topics that we will talk about at RGS, they will be woven into everything that we will do at the school, from the building that will house our pupils, to the curriculum that we will teach. We will endeavor to teach our pupils about how to be responsible, not just for themselves, but for their impact on the environment,” he said. “It is brilliant that the school project and our partners, Multiplex, are being recognised with this award as it shows our pupils that we lead by example. Dubai is a place where anything is possible and being conscious about our sustainability footprint is now non-negotiable which we can all work towards changing for the better,” he added.
The RGS campus is the first BREEAM rated project and the first nearly zero energy school in the Middle East. As well as having bold passive and active energy efficiency measures as an integral part of the design, the school is already garnering huge attention in the Middle East’s construction sector. With the installation of 875 kWp on-site Solar PV, the school is estimated to achieve an annual energy utility index of 60kWh/m2, which means it will meet the Emirates Green Building Council definition of a nearly zero building after achieving an annual EUI of 61 kWh/m2 .
Distinct features that allowed the RGS Guildford Dubai building to be awarded the prestigious ‘Energy Project of the Year’ accolade include 4,000 m2 of green walls that make up the central core of the school, a pillow inflated roof skylight that has been created using 3,000 m2 ETFE Skylight - 3-layer ETFE, and a landscaping themed design that allows pupils to explore higher advanced play elements and explore their limits.
Craig Lamshed added: “Our goal at the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai is to deliver a personalised and forwardthinking educational experience for all our children and the cutting-edge and inspiring campus design really supports every part of this.”
Admissions are now open. Please visit https://www.rgsgd.com/admissions/ for more information.
