PIONEERING SCHOOL BUILDING OVERCOMES URBAN LANDSCAPE CHALLENGES NOTTING HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

• Project: Pioneering building beneath a motorway
• Client: Notting Hill Preparatory School, London
• Architect: Hanson Architects
• Product: noraplan® sentica, noraplan® stone and noraplan inlay, installed surface 585.6 m2
• Installation: 2018

World renowned noraplan® floor tiles provide aesthetics, acoustics and safety for the first school building developed under a motorway

Notting Hill Prep School in Ladbroke Grove, London is a split site school, with three separate buildings. There was a need to build a new school building, but the constraints of the urban landscape posed a unique challenge - it would need to be built under a motorway.

The first of its kind, Hanson Architects were approached to deliver this unique building. Facing considerable technical challenges, Hanson Architects were able to design and build an independent, acoustically separated structure below the concrete framed Westway, next to the Hammersmith and City tube line.

In 2018 the new school building was officially opened and contains the school’s dining hall, kitchen, music department, art department, administration and gym.

Comfort, aesthetics and acoustics
The look of the floor covering throughout the new building had to be modern and in keeping with the other school sites. With continual heavy footfall, the floor must offer high resistance, durability and functionality. noraplan® sentica was the perfect choice as it is ideally tailored to all of these challenges. Providing a comfortable atmosphere and R9 slip resistance in an understated design, noraplan® sentica enhances the new school building by creating an interior that feels good and performs beautifully.

Exceptional ergonomics
nora floor coverings are renowned for their ergonomic advantages. Durability and underfoot comfort comes as standard due to the durable elasticity of the rubber, meaning they can withstand heavy and continual foot flow. noraplan® stone tiles were installed throughout the school building to provide walking comfort, shock absorbing properties and lifelong elasticity, ensuring that pressure on the joints and spine is noticeably reduced. Noise reduction is also a key feature of noraplan stone, offering 6-8dB sound absorption to significantly reduce walking noise and provide comfortable acoustics within all the new departments. Strong and long lasting, noraplan® sentica and noraplan® stone will ensure the flooring stands up to the demands of a busy school.

Cost effective with minimal maintenance
nora floor coverings are incredibly wear-resistant, due to the dense, closed surfaces. Coupled with easy maintenance and cleaning, these floors will look as good as new after years of intensive usage and with no coatings required, they are the most cost-effective long term solution. This is why they are used in numerous educational buildings and other public buildings with high footfall such as airports and museums.

Optimal safety
For any school, the safety and wellbeing of its pupils is paramount and Notting Hill Preparatory School is no exception. All nora floor coverings are classified as fire-toxicologically safe according to the German standard DIN 53 436. They are free of PVC, phthalate plasticizers and halogens. With numerous sustainability and Green Design certificates such as Blue Angel and BRE A+ rating, nora is a safe choice for schools.

Notting Hill Preparatory School adopts a ‘thinking school approach’, committed to developing a passion for learning in all its pupils by delivering dynamic and inspiring teaching. The environment of the new school building has to be conducive to these goals. Due to the talents of Hanson Architects and the quality and design of nora floor coverings, the new school building is one of inspiration and creativity and has been recognised as such by the AJ Retrofit Awards 2018.

Copyrighted photographs:
Davide Saibene and Hanson Architects