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Elliott UK, Minerva Primary Academy
As part of an ongoing framework, Morson Praxis provided Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) Building Services Design for a new £7.5 million primary school in Bristol, delivering innovative and efficient engineering solutions to support high-quality educational facilities.
Client Brief
Project Brief
Morson Praxis was appointed by the Elliott Group to act as M&E Engineering Consultant on five new-build primary schools secured through the DfE PSBP2 Framework. The brief included delivering sustainable, compliant, and energy-efficient M&E designs that met the Department for Education’s standards.
Project Overview
Project Scope & Context
Four of the five schools have now been handed over to the end client, with the fifth school targeting completion in June 2020. Each project involved careful planning to accommodate temporary decant accommodation, demolition of existing structures, and construction of modern, two-storey school buildings.
Image Gallery
Capturing the school’s innovative M&E design and sustainable features.
Our Solution
Engineering Design & Performance Optimisation
Morson Praxis provided end-to-end M&E services, including:
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Pre-contract services: Determined initial building M&E loadings and liaised with utilities for upgrades.
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Performance design: Conducted daylight and overheating modelling, ensuring compliance with CIBSE TM52 and maximising energy efficiency.
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Detailed design review: Acted as Technical Assessors to verify contractor designs adhered to performance principles and DfE requirements.
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Construction support: Offered off-site technical support and regular site visits to ensure compliance and quality.
Additional services for this school included the design of a photovoltaic system to reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 20% and an external lighting assessment to prevent nuisance lighting to nearby residences.
Results
Successful Delivery & Sustainable Outcomes
The new two-storey, 2,196m² building includes 124m² of nursery provision for 30 children and integrates temporary accommodation solutions, phased demolition, and site constraints seamlessly. All teaching facilities were successfully transferred into the new school, with final works completed on time. The PV system and carefully designed external lighting demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and community sensitivity, delivering a modern, energy-efficient learning environment.
