Security and light
Bring the finance director into the conversation and “lower energy costs” will be added to the wish list.

Of all the buildings in a school or college, those used for IT are the most likely to be targeted by thieves as the perpetrators, often ex-students, believe that there might be easy pickings of equipment that can be readily disposed through car boot sales and the black market.

They will also use their inside knowledge of the building to execute the break-in. Only when it is obvious that the normal route of entry and escape – the low level window - is not available will such opportunists give up before they start.

However, attempts to reduce the chances of a break-in by changing the placement of windows can result in providing less natural light in a building – which in turn can reduce educational performance.

The solution to the conundrum has been found by Conport Structures. Their IT suites have windows that start at 3.5 meters above ground level (enough to put off even the most dedicated thief) and yet still manage a total window space of 40% of the floor area – an astonishingly high level of non-reflective illumination.

Even better, the light within Conport’s buildings is structured in a way that has been shown through research in the USA to enhance teaching and learning. And since it comes in from a high position there is no chance of screen glare – a vital requirement of IT suites.

But that’s not all. As Martin Smith (Director of Finance at Runshaw College in Lancashire, where a Conport Northlight Building has been installed as the IT centre), added, “As another money-saving bonus, our data seems to indicate that the building is more energy efficient than a conventional build.”

For more information please contact Conport on 0207 730 9105 or e-mail sales@conport.com

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