Scheduled for completion in the summer 2010, Luton Sixth Form College has been entirely redeveloped across 17,200m2 of grounds next door to the site of the old college. Funded by the Learning and Skills Council the college will comprise a completely new education building and assorted sports facilities, playing fields, all weather pitches, tennis courts and hard and soft landscaping.
“To truly bring the college into the 21st Century, sustainability was key,” comments Terry Boswell of KSS Architects. Therefore the Waterloc250 cell from Marley Plumbing and Drainage was an ideal solution to provide underground storage for stormwater run off. The excess stormwater that the Waterloc250 stores will then be utilised for rainwater harvesting purposes, with the water pumped to outside tanks to facilitate the toilet flushing systems.
Marley Plumbing and Drainage supplied a total of 891 of its Waterloc250 cells covering a total area of 222m3 beneath the college’s new playing fields. Waterloc250 offers a sustainable and effective method of dealing with stormwater run-off. 96% of the cell volume is available to store water, minimising the plan area or depth needed for the installation, whether the application is infiltration or attenuation.
Michael Graham, Senior Infrastructure Engineer for Mott McDonald, who specified the Waterloc250 cell comments, “the modular nature of the Waterloc250 cell was a key reason for specification, as it meant the shape of the system could be adapted to fit the space available. Even if the conditions at the site changed at short notice, the cell’s configurations can easily be revised, as the volume of water they store will always stay the same.”