Allerton High School, Leeds

Client: Leeds Local Education Partnership
Architect: Stephen Finch, Watkins Gray International
Main contractors: Environments 4 Learning led by Interserve Project Services
Roofing contractors: Ashgate Roofing Systems Ltd (SIG-accredited)
Value: £3million
Type of works: supply of 7,500m² of Rhepanol fk roof membranes and Plana V2 ex Asphaltic vapour barriers for a new-build project.

Secondary school education in Leeds has been at the cutting edge of the government’s ambitious Building Schools for the Future programme, with the award-winning £31 million transformation of Allerton High School leading the way.

Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, officially opened the new state-of-the art facilities at the specialist business and enterprise school: an innovative design featuring four learning pods based around a central street area and with the addition of a £1.3million multi-faith centre to provide a unique community focus.

SIG Design and Technology worked with the Interserve-led consortium, Environments 4 Learning on the project, along with nearby Pudsey Grangefield and Rhodillion secondary schools, all of which underwent a total rebuild to help create groundbreaking 21st century roofing solutions – a fitting match for the contemporary new learning facilities.

The large and complex roofing project includes a series of spectacular architectural rooflights; walkways and a detailed shadow-line external finish to the parapets. The roof of the concrete-framed building was made up with a concrete base and was covered with 7,500 sq m of Rhepanol fk, the world’s most advanced single-ply roofing membrane, with Plana V2 vapour barrier supplied by SIG Design & Technology. The Rhepanol membrane was bonded to a complex tapered thermal insulation system by Ecotherm.

Despite a series of setbacks, including gales, during the course of the job, roofing specialists, Ashgate Roofing Systems Ltd handed over the Rhepanol roofs, backed with a 15-year warranty, in good time.

Project Manager Martin Brown of Interserve, who recommended Rhepanol as the preferred single-ply membrane, commented: “We selected Rhepanol fk for a number of reasons, not least its ease of applications. The elimination of hot works provides major benefits and with Rhepanol that’s combined with life cycle credentials and a strong warranty.”