The new Marshland School opened at the beginning of 2016 on a site 600m down the road from the original school which had experienced significant damage in the Christchurch earthquake. Designed by Stephenson and Turner, the new build provides the very latest thinking in Innovative Learning Environments.
Kingspan Insulated Wall and Roof panels have been used extensively as the roof and wall cladding throughout the building, and were an obvious choice says architect Murray Robertson from Stephenson and Turner. "I had used Kingspan Panels previously on projects in both the UK and in New Zealand where they are still performing well, so I have a high level of trust in the company and the product."
Comprising a PIR insulation core sandwiched between two layers of metal, Kingspan panels deliver high thermal performance (R values of up to 5.35), minimal air leakage and the elimination of interstitial cavity condensation and cold bridging — a key requirement for the project.
"We needed a warm roof to eliminate condensation issues," explains Murray. "With Kingspan we achieved this easily by using a single product with high thermal performance for both the roof and the walls — not the layers of materials and tight tolerances required for conventional construction methods. We eliminated thermal breaks and created a high performing thermal envelope with excellent airtightness, and no condensation issues."
Kingspan offers wide spanning capabilities which allowed for a simplified design and construction process. "Very little framing was required," says Murray. "We installed vertical girts at 2.4 metre intervals, plus two horizontal LVL girts at 2.4 and 3.4 metres and a base plate at ground level."
"I also like that Kingspan panels are pre-finished which significantly reduced the amount of interior materials and finishing required. With no painting and stopping, we achieved a fast track build programme and actualised a considerable cost saving."
As a pre-finished product, Kingspan delivered long term benefits for the school by minimising the amount of future maintenance required. "A simple wash down is generally all that's needed," explains Murray. "This means the school's operating budget funds can be directed towards tools for learning, and not painting and maintaining the building."
In summary Murray says he would certainly specify Kingspan Insulated Panels for future projects. "Kingspan has a long in-service history in New Zealand which eliminates any concerns for me about weathertightness and durability."
Kingspan panels are 'GreenTAG Gold' certified and carry a comprehensive Total Panel Guarantee of up to 15 years — thermal and structural performance.
Product: Kingspan Insulated Panels — KS1000RW Trapezoidal Roof and Wall insulated panels and KS1000AWP Architectural Wall insulated panels
Project: Marshlands School, Christchurch
Architect: Stephenson and Turner
Main contractor: City Care
Roofing Contractor: Wayman Roofing Services
Photos: Credit to Paul McCredie and Kingspan.