Designing Timber issue 10 for online - Flipbook - Page 57
UNDERSTANDING
SAFE SCHOOLS FOR
THE FUTURE
afe Schools for the
Future is a design
guide which shares
in-use and design
insights from 17 UK timberframed primary schools:
all of them completed to
consistent, impressive
outcomes.
S
Written by TDUK members
Architype architects, it seeks
to remove barriers to homegrown timber primary schools
being built across the UK.
It does so by sharing triedand-tested solutions and is
informed by input from Ignis
昀椀re consultants, University
College London and the
University of Edinburgh.
It recommends a holistic
approach and describes a
safe school as one that:
• delivers consistent healthy
outcomes for building users
• aligns with planetary and
economic boundaries
• can demonstrate its safety
robustly through design,
construction and use.
↑
Ysgol Trimsaran
primary school has
a timber structure
that uses homegrown
Welsh timber; © Phil
Boorman
Timber is key
Timber is integral to the
construction of these highperformance, low-carbon
primary schools. The document
explains all the carbon,
cost, wellbeing and learning
bene昀椀ts, while addressing
昀椀re safety and compliance
concerns. It also provides
design details speci昀椀c to
their timber construction and
discusses best practice in
terms of delivery.
The timber schools in the study
have four main advantages:
DESIGNING TIMBER
57
NOV/DEC 2025
• Health
Healthy low-toxicity
materials are used; and
fresh air is e昀케ciently and
consistently provided to all
learning spaces.
• Performance
Radically lower energy bills,
with better indoor air quality
for better learning.
• Timber
Use of timber can reduce
embodied carbon by 60%.
• Cost
Capital costs are lean, and
schools can save up to
£50,000 a year.
Health and wellbeing in
classrooms
The initiative highlights the
importance of creating healthy
learning environments for
children. Classrooms designed
