Southam College’s Net Zero Journey Made Striking with Rockpanel

BAM Design Architectural Associate, Marcus Burley, spoke about Rockpanel, “There are several reasons why we continue to choose Rockpanel, the breadth of surface designs (Woods, Metals and Stones etc.) and colours – both RAL-matched and bespoke – offer us flexibility and design freedom, but importantly, it also fulfils fire safety compliance and embodies excellent Eco credentials.”   

Rockpanel’s John Porter, “We were very pleased to continue our long association with BAM. That relationship is key when materials need to be on-site at the right time, to the correct specification – especially as the college remained fully operational throughout the project. Sustainability was a key concern for Southam and something Rockpanel prioritises both in terms of investment in today’s product offering and in R&D going forward. 

Delivering the WOW effect 

BAM’s Marcus Burley continued, “We loved the colours and forms specified for Southam, which offered the WOW factor the college head was looking for. The design used standard boards, cut to create geometric shapes used on several elevations, which remained easy to install, using self-coloured rivets. They make a real impact and offer excellent way-finding.” 

The BAM design team appreciated how the way the Rockpanel facades helped to create a cohesive design that complemented well with other materials, including the brick elevations. Two panel colours were used for the project, RAL 9016 (Traffic White) and an NCS-matched Green. Randomly arranged three and four sided white panels were organised within columns, with the green used for entrances, canopies and other areas to provide visual impact and assist with student orientation. 

Advanced Roofing & Cladding were responsible for the installation. Cladding Contracts Manager, Dave Stewart, “This was a great project to work on. The variety of shapes used created a challenge which we were happy to meet. The completed facades look great.”  

Meeting the highest standards 

Rockpanel is made from abundant volcanic stone basalt and up to 50% recycled material, a self-replenishing, non-combustible resource, which makes every panel virtually impervious to the elements. Colour fastness is a very important requisite for the Department of Education, and one which Rockpanel can guarantee, throughout the facade’s long life. 

Head Teacher and Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust CEO, Ranjit Samra, "The new school design meets the highest environmental and sustainability standards and will be a symbol of how much we value our students, staff and wider community.”