Dulux Trade
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Dulux Trade Paint makes new school brighter
A brand new primary school in South Wales has been made brighter with help from the Dulux Trade Light & Space colour range. Used in Frosted Dawn, the innovative light reflective coating was applied to interior walls at Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel School in Llanelli, helping create a stimulating learning environment for pupils.
Carmarthenshire County Council, which led the project, wanted to construct a school which made an architectural statement, while providing an inspirational teaching space for the staff and 240 pupils aged between three and 11. The construction development and service company that worked on the project, the Kier Group, also aspired to create a learning environment that was like no other in the area. To realise this vision, the organisations worked with Dulux Trade Specification Account Manager, Lawrence Harvey, and Senior Colour Designer, Tiffany Allison-Hall.
"It was important to us that all third parties involved understood the unique nature of the project," explained Kier Group Senior Site Manager, Ewart Wilson. "From the initial planning stages, through to when the finishing touches were being applied, Dulux Trade offered a thorough and regular consultation service. As well as offering practical advice on the best products to use, the team also provided very creative solutions that were in line with our own vision. Dulux Trade didn't just supply us with effective products, the team also worked hard to deliver a full added value service."
A key objective for the new build school was to optimise natural light within the internal areas. "Throughout the building, we've introduced double height corridors, large windows and skylights to bring in sunlight and create the illusion of open space," explained Andrew Tidy, the Architect from Carmarthenshire County Council who worked on the project. "We wanted to enhance this as much as possible, so when Lawrence told us about Dulux Trade Light & Space Diamond Matt it was a natural choice. The paint really complements the other design aspects, making the most of natural light. What's more, it is robust enough to withstand the wear and tear of a primary school, as sticky handprints and other marks can be easily wiped clean."
The first of its kind, the Dulux Trade Light & Space colour range is created through a unique combination of innovative optical brighteners, highly reflective paint components and cleaner tinting recipes. In comparison to conventional emulsion paints, the collection absorbs an average of 50 percent less light, enhancing luminance and making rooms feel bigger, brighter and less gloomy.
Dulux Trade Light & Space was used in a Diamond Matt formulation to bring superior durability to the school's high traffic areas. As it is up to ten times more durable and ten times more stain resistant than standard vinyl silk emulsions, Dulux Trade Light & Space Diamond Matt can help increase maintenance cycles and ensure a strong return on investment.
To complement Light & Space in Frosted Dawn, colour consultant Tiffany recommended Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt in Willow Creek, a fresh green tone, and Javan Dawn, a vibrant turquoise shade, from the Dulux Trade Colour Palette, to create feature walls within several areas of the building. Contrasting these selected shades with the Light & Space coating intensified the appearance of the colours, resulting in a bright and vivacious finish. The carefully selected colour scheme met the objective of creating a unique learning environment, as it was a contemporary and distinctive take on the usual rainbow brights that often feature on primary school walls.
However, it wasn't just the aesthetic merits of Light & Space that made it a firm choice for the team. As a result of its reflective qualities, Light & Space can save an average of 22 per cent of lighting energy by allowing lower wattage energy efficient bulbs to be used to the same effect as standard ones. This means, lights can be switched on twenty minutes later every day on average - all of which equates to turning off one in every five 60W filament bulbs.
The painting contractor employed to work on the project also spoke highly of the coating. Rob Thomas, MD of Swansea Decorating Services, commented: "You can tell you're using a premium product with Dulux Trade Light & Space. It's easy to apply with amazing coverage and because of its hardwearing nature, the quality finish will stay looking pristine for much longer than some cheaper alternatives."
