Created as part of the Government’s BSF (Building Schools for the Future) initiative, the new Swallow Hill Community College in Armley, West Yorkshire has been built to provide a new and fresh learning environment and has been given a high quality paint finish to match.
Working alongside main contractor Interserve, Johnstone’s Technical Specification and Development team helped to devise a paint specification that would not only withstand the everyday challenges of a modern school environment but would also significantly help to extend long-term redecoration cycles.
Following several detailed consultation meetings on site, Johnstone’s suggested the use of their Advanced Technology Acrylic Durable Matt. Specifically developed for use in areas where a hardwearing and highly durable paint coating is required, Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt emulsion boasts a special robust washable formula that enables surfaces such as walls and ceilings be regularly cleaned and maintenance redecoration programmes considerably extended. As it retains a true matt finish even when it is repeatably cleaned, Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt has been stringently tested and achieved with ease the standards of Class 1 of the ISO 11198 scrub test. Ideally suited to even the most challenging of school environments, the matt finish also provides exceptional coverage to help disguise minor imperfections and ensure remedial and redecoration work can be carried out easily and without disruption to others.
The decoration work, which was completed by Leeds based professional painting contractors A S Broadley, saw the product applied throughout the interior of the school, including in the walls of the classrooms, corridors and communal areas.
To maximise the effectiveness of the product, members of Johnstone’s Technical Specification team also provided advice and guidance on how the finished surfaces should be best cleaned and maintained. Paul Smith, Johnstone’s Business Development Manager (Public Sector) explains, “Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt has been developed specifically to withstand rigorous cleaning regimes. To help preserve and protect the paintwork further, we worked collaboratively and provided information to Interserve, who are overseeing the long term maintenance of the school and liaised directly with those who would be responsible for the day to day upkeep of the premises to demonstrate various cleaning procedures.”
Johnstone’s involvement in the project has not been limited to maintenance considerations however and the company’s in-house Technical Colour Consultancy were on hand to provide expert guidance and create mood boards to assist with architects GHM’s choice of colour scheme in the sports hall.
Other Johnstone’s products used on the internal decoration project of Swallow Hill Community College include Jonmat Premium Contract Matt on the ceilings and Johnstone’s Advanced Technology Aqua Water-Based Gloss on the internal woodwork and trims. The new school, which unites West Leeds High School and Wortley High School following their merger and has been built as part of a wider PFI scheme for Education Leeds.