ST DOMINIC'S GREEN WALL

A spectacular new sports centre has opened its doors, boasting a wealth of eco-features including a green wall and a living roof.

The Siena Building at St Dominic’s Sixth Form College in Harrow, was built by Jarvis, a Harpenden-based construction company. It was opened last week by Archbishop Vincent Nichols (Thursday 15 July). The building is already attracting a great deal of interest – from enthusiastic pupils and staff, as well as hundreds of tiny insects who are settling into their new home.

Thousands of native plants cover the sides of the contemporary structure, and the roof is clad with a mat of sedum. A high-tech rainwater harvesting and irrigation system, installed by Jarvis, will ensure that the plants stay healthy and green, whatever the weather. The project has been awarded a BREEAM rating of Very Good (the eco-equivalent of a gold medal).

Steve Cook, Managing Director of Jarvis Contracting said: “The plants look striking, and will act as solar protection, helping to regulate the temperature within the building and reduce its energy consumption. They will also protect the façade from damaging environmental factors, such as rain, hail, snow and UV light. Plus the planting provides an ideal habitat for tiny insects, improves the air quality, and absorbs sound – which was an important consideration, as the building is situated near a residential area.”

Green walls date back thousands of years, to the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and were popularised in the Victorian era, when ivy-clad facades were the height of chic. Now, the trend is for a range of native plants, including fruit and vegetables, to promote bio-diversity.

Patrick Harty, Principal of St Dominic’s said, “Our College is very environmentally aware, and at the outset, we asked Jarvis to create a state of the art sports facility with a range of sustainable features including solar panels, rainwater irrigation, a green wall and living roof. We are all delighted with our new building!”