GenZero Prototype Schools

Commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), GenZero represents an ambitious research project redefining sustainable school construction. Developed between 2020 and 2021, the project delivered two detailed prototype secondary schools alongside a flexible kit-of-parts construction system designed for adaptability, sustainability, and scalability across the UK.

A Holistic View of Sustainability

From the outset, the project brief emphasised sustainability beyond traditional measures of energy efficiency. Grounded in the DfE’s three core design standards: creating a healthy, productive environment; ensuring safety, security, and sustainability; providing appropriately sized spaces, the GenZero prototypes integrate holistic strategies throughout the building and landscape.

Key elements delivered by GenZero include:

• Enhanced user wellbeing: Interiors and external spaces are thoughtfully designed to foster connections with nature. Views from the building are maximised, alongside outdoor learning, activity, and amenity spaces set within a lush, protective landscape that wraps closely around the buildings and encourages users to go outdoors.

• Social core: Central to each school prototype is a multifunctional ‘Commons’ area, housing dining, library, and IT spaces, accessible both during and beyond school hours, reinforcing a sense of community.

• Environmental innovation: The buildings utilise natural cross-ventilation systems with heat recovery, generous ceiling heights, and evenly distributed windows for daylighting, all designed to minimise energy use and maximise occupant comfort.