The refurbishment of Keyworth School in Nottingham involved the removal of existing concrete panels and the installation of more than 1,600m² of Valcan’s Ceramapanel A2 Fibre Cement cladding, in a mix of colours and textures including Natural Contour Lines Raw, Hearth Brick, and Natural Textures Touch in Cinnamon, specified by ECD Architects. The project presented several challenges, including carrying out remediation works during term time while the school remained fully operational. The teams worked in collaboration to ensure everyone’s safety.
Greg Beaver, Operations Director for Zeno Facades, says: “The recladding of Keyworth School became a chance to redefine the visual and environmental identity of a much-loved community building. Working with the Equals Trust, ECD Architects and AMR, our goal from the outset was to deliver a façade solution that respected the school’s character while addressing long-term performance, safety, and sustainability.
He continues: “Valcan Ceramapanel emerged as the ideal material choice. Its durability, fire performance, and clean, modern aesthetic aligned with the Trust’s priorities for resilience and future-ready construction. But beyond compliance and performance metrics, Ceramapanel enabled us to completely refresh the school’s appearance – bringing warmth, texture, and a contemporary edge to a building that serves as a daily backdrop to young learners’ lives.
“Recladding a school in full operation requires coordination, sensitivity, and a commitment to minimal disruption. The project team worked meticulously to phase installation around school hours, ensuring safety and continuity for staff and pupils. It became a demonstration of how well-planned construction can integrate seamlessly with an active educational environment.
“As the façade took shape, it became clear how transformative a thoughtfully designed skin can be. The renewed exterior offers improved thermal performance, extends the lifespan of the building envelope, and reduces ongoing maintenance demands – delivering both economic and environmental benefits for the Trust. Just as importantly, it has given Keyworth School a refreshed sense of identity: confident, contemporary, and built to last.”
Catherine Cox, Trust Executive Officer for Equals Trust, says: “From start to finish, we have never experienced such a professional team, focussed on all aspects of delivery from material quality, to professionalism, unmatched hard work and consideration for a working school. Mario (Site Manager for Zeno Facades) has led a professional team who have been completely dedicated to the quality outcome we have today. The building is warm and revitalised, ready for another 50 years. Our heating has never been so effective, and the school has never looked so good. The comments in the village reflect surprise that the building could look that good, but without understanding the hard work that has gone into it.
“The quality of work is tremendous – when I walk into or out of school I am struck by the consistency of the materials and the precision in which the cladding has been attached. As I look across the school from our office, I can see the same attention to detail has been afforded across the whole site, whether it is visible at ground level or only seen from height. The quality of workmanship has also been consistent, whether it be the effort put into the internal layers or to the external finish. Having witnessed the team working, I know how much pride has been taken with our school to make it warmer, safer and sustainable.”
Toby Green, Business Development Manager at Valcan adds: “It has been such a great project for Valcan to be involved in from the start and it was a pleasure to work with Zeno Facades, ECD Architects to supply our fibre cement Ceramapanel panels to improve not just the aesthetics of the façade, but also to make the building perform better and more economically. It has also been great to work on such a well-coordinated project.”
Greg concludes: “This project stands as an example of how recladding – when approached with care, technical understanding, and material intelligence – can elevate an entire educational setting. For the Equals Trust, it represents a strategic investment in quality. For the school community, it offers a renewed and uplifting environment. And for us, it’s a project that demonstrates the impact great façades can have – not only on buildings, but on the people who use them every day.” valcan.co.uk