Two Bridges

Two Bridges Academy is an SEN School in Alverston in South Gloucestershire providing nursery, primary and secondary school classrooms and additional special needs facilities, including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and calm rooms, as well as hygiene rooms. In addition, the school will include offices for administrative purposes, a dining area, a main hall and ancillary supporting spaces such as the kitchen and laundry rooms.

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The Department for Education (DfE) utilised a sustainability schools' matrix for this pathfinder project which set guidelines for efficient design and development of the school, including an overarching requirement for Net Zero Carbon in Operation.

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The NZC Operational Energy Use calculations have been performed using a combination of calculation methodologies, including dynamic simulation modelling, parametric modelling and CIBSE TM54.

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Parametric modelling is the creation of chosen geometry of a digital building model based on a series of pre-programmed algorithms called 'parameters'.

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In the case of Two Bridges Academy the chosen geometry was the glazing proportions of the building and the parameters were based on a target heating load for the building (in accordance with the DfE’s NZC Standard criteria) and the DfE’s health & wellbeing criteria for daylight access.