Gaia was asked by our client PJ Plumbing Heating & Maintenance Ltd to provide a total floor solution, including insulation and screed works, to a new sports facility in Norwich.

The sports hall, built at the Hewett Academy, is expected to be used by Jane Austen College, the Hewett Academy, Charles Darwin Primary, and the new Wherry School, an independent specialist free school. As the facility will be used by students, we supplied tamper-proof room thermostats, a popular product in schools and public areas.

The centre has been named after Eileen Ash, a pioneering female test cricketer who lives in Norwich and is now 107 years old. The official opening took place last Autumn.


The hall has since been kitted out with new equipment, supporting a range of sports offered at the schools including netball, cricket, trampolining and basketball.

The head of Jane Austen College David Thomas said in a recent article: "This is a great new facility for both our students and those from Hewett Academy, and a great example of how our schools work together across the Inspiration Trust."

Academy Principle Rebecca Handley Kirk of Hewett Academy also said: "The Hewett Academy already has some of the best sports facilities in the city and we regularly welcome pupils from nearby schools for swimming, hockey and football. This brilliant new centre is a great way to continue that tradition."

The system installed was Gaia Wet Underfloor Heating into screed, and placed in the changing facilities and lobby areas.

Senior Account Manager William Theobald, who oversaw the project for Gaia, added: "We worked closely with a trusted screeding contractor to deliver the total package including screed laid to falls in the shower areas. The project was a joy to work on, and there was great communication from PJ Plumbing and the main contractor from start to finish."

For further information, please contact Gaia on 01359 242 400 or visit www.gaia.co.uk.