Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School

Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School has been carefully designed to raise the educational standards in Wales. The project is a joint venture between Rhondda Cynon Taff Council and the Welsh Government and an investment that forms part of a significant programme across several education projects in Pontypridd to elevate learning environments and educational outcomes.

The redevelopment includes two purpose-built buildings for learners, surrounded by woodlands and open landscaped areas. Facilities include classrooms, a café, a resource area, staff rooms, social spaces, a multi-use hall and changing areas.

The scope of the project extends beyond the classroom walls. The new buildings aim for net zero and BREEAM excellent status and align with 21^st-century learning needs. The impact of the redevelopment is site-wide, adding a further 14 bus and 160 car parking areas, landscaped social spaces, and state-of-the-art sports pitches.

Together, the educational experience and well-being of the school enhance the overall educational experience by encouraging physical activity, social interaction, and a sense of community.

The school’s design maximises space efficiency to ensure spaces are adaptable for modern teaching needs. The benefits of the design are multifaceted, promising architecturally efficient and contemporary buildings within a sustainable and carbon-neutral built environment.

The building’s envelope enhances thermal performance, integrating solar control glass, passive ventilation, openable windows, and ‘breathing building’ technology to enable a mixed-mode solution.

To reduce the school’s carbon footprint further, we incorporated photovoltaics into the building design to reduce reliance on traditional power sources. LED energy-efficient artificial lighting was also included and will predominantly be operational outside school hours. Low-temperature air source heat pumps have been used for the underfloor heating, radiators, and radiant panel systems, with high-temperature heat pumps providing hot water – all of which form part of the school’s energy-efficient infrastructure and safeguard the effectiveness and relevance of the infrastructure for years to come.

Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School’s redevelopment enhances the overall school experience for over 1,600 students and actively promotes visibility, safety, and connectivity, creating an environment conducive to effective learning, collaboration, and social interaction, and is another fantastic achievement that builds on our commitment to shaping transformative learning environments in the UK.