Nanogel® educates the building industry

One of Europe’s most interesting building projects where Nanogel® has been used to achieve remarkably high levels of insulation and energy-saving is a new school extension in the UK.

The first European use of Nanogel within the Kalwall translucent cladding system has been completed in the UK. This is a new extension for the Highcrest Community School, 30 kilometres west of London.

Jacobs UK (Architecture) Ltd was commissioned by Buckinghamshire County Council to design and manage various works at this secondary school as part of an ongoing programme of works. The school had been designated a ‘failing’ school so the Council, in consultation with central Government, took the decision to close and reopen it under the “Fresh Start” initiative.

Various improvements and extensions were commissioned culminating in the decision to replace part of the 1930s-built school with a major extension. The purpose was to provide additional classrooms, a new combined assembly hall/performance area and a dance studio. It was also possible to provide an internet café/study area.

The new extension was built using facing bricks to match the older parts of the school with cedar cladding and split-faced white blockwork for the first floor classrooms. On the south facing elevation, the Kalwall light-diffusing insulated wall system incorporating Nanogel was used for the classrooms, internet cafe and the dance studio.

A planting scheme within the new landscaped terraced courtyard area links the new extension with the older part of the school. 85 staff, including 50 teachers, now provide education for 730 pupils in the 11-18 age group.

Nanogel + Kalwall

Over the last two years, Nanogel has been introduced to the building industry for use within translucent products. Developed by the US Cabot Corporation, this unique product is based on a translucent granular form of silica aerogel which, for many years, has been used in the science and aerospace industries. Comprising 95% air, it is the world's lightest and best insulating solid material.

Kalwall was introduced from the United States to UK architects about seven years ago. Since then over 300 different projects have been completed, many of which are in the school, sports hall, swimming pool and leisure areas. Quite unlike any other translucent system, Kalwall has the unique ability to diffuse natural daylight without shadows, glare or hotspots and without the need for curtains or blinds. Used for both cladding and roofing, it will distribute daylight as ‘museum-quality’ light evenly across a room.

By using Nanogel within the Kalwall panels a remarkable U value of 0.28 (W/m²K) can be achieved. This is four times better than insulating glass units and is equivalent to a solid wall. It means that architects can achieve the highest energy saving while introducing large areas of daylight through surfaces which might otherwise be solid and opaque. Together, Kalwall + Nanogel has been named one of the 10 new green and important building products of recent years.

At Highcrest School, the architects were keen to embrace this new technology. Project architect Jonathan Vize says. ‘We study new developments and are keen to find solutions to problems. One of the problems these days is the conflict between stringent Buildings Regulations designed to save energy and the need to introduce daylight. In many ways, we have been trailblazers at this school. It has become a showcase for what Kalwall + Nanogel can achieve both in high insulating performance and in aesthetics.’

The growing reputation of the Nanogel + Kalwall system is based on its appearance and the calming influence which diffused daylighting has, especially on children and learning. Importantly, it is also based on its remarkable performance and the contribution it makes towards reducing the energy costs

of artificial lighting, heating and air-conditioning. Highcrest School has been remarkable success story combining high-tech facilities with the very highest standards of teaching.

Information about Kalwall is available from Stoakes Systems Ltd www.stoakes.co.uk

Reader enquiries

Cabot Corporation
Interleuvenlaan 15 I
B-3001 Leuven

Belgium
+32 1639 2578
Donald_Beck@​Cabot-Corp.com
www.cabot-corp.com

---

Notes for editors

About Nanogel

The Cabot Corporation developed Nanogel as a way of increasing the insulation of thermally inefficient glazing systems. Nanogel is a translucent granular form of silica aerogel. Comprising 97% air and weighing only 80g per litre, it is the world’s lightest solid material. Compared with other insulation materials, it provides superior thermal and sound insulation performance as well as better light transmission and diffusion. Using within glazing systems, Nanogel offers architects and designers a revolutionary and unique solution for maximising levels of natural daylight coupled with high energy efficiency. Nanogel is manufactured exclusively by Cabot in Frankfurt, Germany - visit the website at: www.nanogel.com

Nanogel has been cited for being ‘the best translucent insulation for glazing in the world’ by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Journal Innovation Award 2004 and the ‘Best Innovative Product for Energy Savings’ at Bau 2005, Germany’s leading building and construction exhibition.

About Cabot Corporation

Cabot Corporation (www.cabot-corp.com) is a $1.8 billion global specialty chemical and materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A. Cabot's major products are carbon black, fumed silica, inkjet colorants, capacitor materials, and cesium formate drilling fluids. Cabot is also a leader in the production of fine, structured, sub-micron particles, comprising carbon, metals and metal oxides developed to enhance the performance of a variety of products, including rubber, adhesives, inks, microelectronics, and plastics. Cabot operates 44 manufacturing plants located in 23 countries around the world.

Nanogel® is a registered trademark of Cabot Corporation.