Jean genius

Sheffield school showcases sustainable construction

A school in the Heeley district of Sheffield has been super-insulated far beyond any official regulations - with recycled jeans. In the UK’s most energy-efficient use of discarded denim, no fewer than 4,000 pairs were shredded and treated with fire retardant, producing a highly effective cladding material to stop precious warmth escaping through the roof and walls of Annsgrove primary school. Imaginative recycling is a strong thread running through the sustainable construction process favoured by building contractors Willmott Dixon for all aspects of the school building. Used tyres were the source material for the durable rubber coating which weatherproofs the roof, and 30,000 old newspapers went into making the wall panels in the main hall. Other features include maximum use of natural light and ventilation, and sourcing of the cedar wood for the exterior walls from a sustainably managed forest in Wales. “The important thing,” says Willmott Dixon’s regional managing director Peter Owen, “is that this is replicable, so hopefully what seems unique now will become standard in school building in the next few years.” - Roger East

7 July 2006