Restricted ground space opened up the opportunity to create green roofs at three levels for play space, and outdoor classrooms and a 2000m² biodiversity roof designed to replicate a meadow, complete with cornflowers and other urban plants. It is also a haven for birds and other kinds of wildlife, with rotting tree stumps provided for many kinds of insects. All of roofs are used as a learning resource with curriculum-friendly uses for all the children.

Sharrow Primary is Sheffield’s greenest school, with a heating system powered by warmth coming up from deep in the earth and toilets flushed by rainwater, further proving that Sharrow School is a real testament to what can be achieved and is a landmark construction that raises the benchmark. This sustainable building was delivered on time and within budget with ongoing whole life cost savings.

The Bauder green roof on Sharrow Primary School in Sheffield was the first in the country to be declared a nature reserve. A fitting accolade for a school that defies traditional ideas of what a school should be.

Bauder building board

The specification

Restricted ground space opened up the opportunity to create green roofs at three levels for play space, and outdoor classrooms and a 2000m² biodiversity roof designed to replicate a meadow, complete with cornflowers and other urban plants. It is also a haven for birds and other kinds of wildlife, with rotting tree stumps provided for many kinds of insects. All of roofs are used as a learning resource with curriculum-friendly uses for all the children.

This system is an A+ rated Bauder waterproofing system with 120mm of PIR insulation which achieves a U value of 0.2W/M²K beneath the 1200m² biodiversity wildflower roof constructed on a concrete deck. Additionally, this system aids in resolving water run-off problems and assisting in the control of storm water, humidity, noise, heat and pollution.

The result 

Sharrow Primary is Sheffield’s greenest school, with a heating system powered by warmth coming up from deep in the earth and toilets flushed by rainwater, further proving that Sharrow School is a real testament to what can be achieved and is a landmark construction that raises the benchmark. This sustainable building was delivered on time and within budget with ongoing whole life cost savings.