Norway’s Largest School Receives a Transparent Texlon® ETFE Roof
In 2022 and 2023, Norway’s largest secondary school received a comprehensive renovation. This extensive update of Sandefjord Upper Secondary School includes a transparent and lightweight Texlon® ETFE roof by Vector Foiltec. The roof spans over a big courtyard, creating a versatile atrium that connects multiple school buildings. The result is a newly created recreational space, where the pupils can connect, learn, and spend time on their breaks.
Renovating with Texlon® ETFE for a Better Learning Environment
Since large parts of the buildings at Sandefjord Upper Secondary School (SVGS) are from the 1950s, and are outdated, they needed to be renovated extensively. Not only did this project include demolition and new building plans, but also a modern transformation of the existing building mass. The two main goals of this project were to increase the school’s capacity and to improve the technical quality of the buildings classrooms and education spaces. Additionally, the aim was to create better integration between subjects, to improve the infrastructure, and to increase the flexibility of the floor plans. Lastly, the focus was also on creating a welcoming and supporting learning environment for the pupils.
The covered courtyard, with its big recreational areas on two floors, play a big part in achieving the goals set for this renovation project. With its new Texlon® ETFE roof, the space can now be used all year round, while still receiving daylight.
An Individual Solution for Every Project
One of the main challenges in colder climates, like Norway, is reaching the right u-value, also known as thermal transmittance. We can add foil layers to our ETFE cushions to increase the thermal performance. In the case of the courtyard roof at SVGS, the cushions consist of four ETFE layers. These additional layers create a comfortable atmosphere inside.
Further, the high light transmission of the material makes it possible to create a naturally lit space with a nice indoor-outdoor feeling. To avoid overheating in the summer, due to high solar radiation, we treat the foil with a highly reflective print pattern. Therefore, we can control the g-value, i.e. the total amount of solar energy that enters the inside of a building. As a result, the foil repels a percentage of the solar radiation but still keeps its transparent qualities.
We’ve completed many new and renovation projects in various climatic conditions, and can adapt our system to achieve the desired g- and u-values.
Information
| Date | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Sandefjord, Norway |
| Sector | Education |
| Size | 1,654 m² |
| Structure | Steel |
| Type | Roof |
| Architects | Planforum Arkitekter AS |
Picture Copyright: © Vector Foiltec
Texlon® ETFE Supports an Energy-Efficient Renovation
One of the benefits of the renovation was an increase in energy savings by at least 20 percent. Covering a courtyard or atrium can improve the energy balance of a building. With a high-performing system like Texlon® ETFE, the need for air conditioning and or heating is minimized. On top of that, the need for artificial lighting decreases.
Additionally, our system is extremely lightweight, resulting in relatively small additional loads . As a result, Texlon® ETFE is a great choice for renovation projects, where the existing buildings can only handle a limited about of loads.
Your One-Stop-Shop for a Comprehensive Solution
For the courtyard at Sandefjord Upper Secondary School, Vector Foiltec was awarded for the total solution which included the
- design,
- engineering,
- supply, and
- installation
of the Texlon® ETFE system. Further, we delivered steel work, gutters, and vents. Our worldwide team can answer all of your questions about our system and projects. Contact your local export here.