Rodenborch College chooses sustainable, fire-resistant facade with Rockpanel Woods

Diverse and rich facade

How did Van Leeuwen achieve this? "It was immediately clear to us that we wanted to create a high level of intimacy and clarity. We achieved this by giving the building three educational wings around a central atrium. The central space is the heart of the school. The space is designed to be fluid, with light coming from above and views to the outside through the facades. By placing the student break area as part of this hall along the facade, we created a strong connection with the outdoors."

For such a large building, Rodenborch College is welcoming to the eye. Van Leeuwen explains, "In the design of the exterior, we chose fixed dimensions to make the building affordable and prefabricated. By varying the proportions, we created a diverse and rich facade: the closer you get, the more detail and richness you experience."

Jeroen Kastelein is a supervisor at Burgland Bouw. He explains: "The facade is constructed using timber frame elements to which we first attached black Rockpanel Backboard. On top of this, we vertically installed Rockpanel Woods cladding in three different widths in a traditional irregular bond, with an 8-millimeter gap between each strip. From a distance, this gives the building a calm, natural appearance that fits in with the surroundings. But up close, it makes the facade playful and dynamic."

Maintenance-free and fire-safe

Rockpanel Woods was chosen for two clear reasons, says Bas ten Thije, facade specialist at supplier XLWOOD. "Initially, we considered using wood for the facade, but that choice requires too much maintenance, especially for a school building. Additionally, we wanted a facade that meets strict fire safety standards, so we can deliver the safest possible building. We searched for a product that is not only maintenance-free but also passes a practical fire safety test together with the facade construction, achieving an end-use fire class B. This combination quickly led us to Rockpanel. They have tested a variety of common facade constructions as a whole, so we can truly say that the school is a safe place for young children."
 
Facade panels with a genuine wood look

For the external facade, Teak from the Rockpanel Woods range was used. Ten Thije says, "Although wood was ruled out as a facade material, we still wanted to give the building a genuine wood look. And in that regard, nothing comes close to Rockpanel."

"With Rockpanel Woods, we have an alternative that is almost indistinguishable from wood, yet as robust as stone and very low-maintenance. This is particularly important in school construction because schools often receive less maintenance in practice than residential houses. A real wooden facade quickly shows signs of aging. With Rockpanel, you can practically forget about the facade for five years, and after cleaning it once, it looks brand new again. The appearance which is crucial for any building remains intact for a lifetime."

Kastelein was also very satisfied with the use of Rockpanel. "Installing the Rockpanel Woods strips was a breeze. Once you've measured everything properly, it's just a matter of nailing it in place, and you're done. No need for pre-drilling and the cladding has no movement, which not only saves a lot of time but also results in a neater end result. We are all very pleased with that."