weber.therm External Wall Insulation for award-winning Lowther Children's Centre

Architects Patel Taylor, London EC1, were awarded this two-part commission in 2006 for the new-build Children's Centre which is located in the grounds of the existing Lowther Primary School. It is connected via an interlocking canopy and clad entirely in white render allowing the building to achieve its own distinct visual character.

"Our design contrasts the accessible and public nature of the Centre's frontage, which effectively acts as the entrance to the school, with a secure and green play garden to the rear. Designed with a simple palette of materials, the scheme is an example of how good design can overcome restricted budgets," states Sam Selencky, project architect.

Main contractor Lakehouse of Romford, Essex, worked with MACS of Luton in the application of the weber.therm XM EWI. This is a lightweight system using polymer renders and meshcloth reinforcement. The first 3mm of weber.rend LAC is applied and the meshcloth laid into the material. A second coat of 3mm is then applied and allowed to cure. In this project, 1.5mm of weber.sil TF, in white, has been used which is a silicone-based, through-coloured, weather resistant decorative textured finish designed for use with the weber.therm XM EWI system. This high-performance layered system offers excellent thermal efficiency resulting in reduced energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

The Lowther Children's Centre has received several awards, including the coveted RIBA Sorrell Award Winner 2010 for Best Education project; the Civic Trust Award Winner 2010; and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award in 2009. The project included installation of a woodchip biomass boiler in the existing building, use of sheep's wool and solar panels.

The BBA accredited weber.therm EWI is a versatile system that can be used with all major insulant types. A choice of low maintenance finishes, which includes the revolutionary weber.therm XP with super-fast application One-Coat Technology, a natural brick slip and the cost efficient multiple render, brickwork-effect systems allow a seamless match with neighbouring properties. Render finishes include dry dash, scraped or textured render, and there is a wide choice of coloured weber.plast and weber.sil synthetic finishes which are factory batched in ready-to-use form and manufactured at various sites around the UK.