Transforming School Spaces with Printed Aluminium Cladding: A Project Print Management Success Story

At Project Print Management, we are passionate about using creative print solutions to breathe new life into old spaces. One of our recent projects perfectly showcases the transformative power of high-quality, digitally printed aluminium panels — a refurbishment project at The William Morris Junior School.

The school was undergoing a comprehensive renovation program, and the Headteacher was keen to revitalise one of the school’s tired, underused playground areas. Working closely with a freelance designer, they envisioned a bright, inspiring space that would capture the imagination of the children while providing a durable, low-maintenance solution that could withstand the rigours of daily school life.

Digitally printed aluminium cladding emerged as the perfect solution, and Project Print Management was brought on board to design, produce, and install a system that would deliver both impact and durability.

The Challenge: Brightening Up an Aging Play Area

The William Morris Junior School, like many older educational facilities, faced the familiar problem of worn, uninspiring outdoor spaces. The brickwork surrounding their gymnasium area was solid but aesthetically tired — hardly the environment to inspire creativity or enthusiasm among the pupils.

The Headteacher, working collaboratively with an external designer, wanted something more than just a basic coat of paint. They envisioned a colourful, engaging visual environment that could stand up to the physical environment of a busy junior school — including inevitable knocks, bumps, and the occasional bout of mischief.

Their goals were clear:

Durability: The solution needed to last between five and seven years, with minimal maintenance.
Resistance: It had to withstand physical abuse, minor vandalism, and everyday wear and tear.
Ease of Repair: In the event of serious damage, individual panels should be easily replaceable.
Visual Appeal: Above all, it had to look fantastic — vibrant, welcoming, and engaging for the students.

With this brief in hand, Project Print Management set about finding the right solution.

Our Solution: Digitally Printed Aluminium Composite Panels

After carefully evaluating several options, we recommended using digitally printed aluminium composite panels (ACP) finished with a specialist anti-graffiti laminate.

Aluminium composite panels are an ideal material for this type of application. Made from two thin layers of aluminium enclosing a polyethylene core, ACPs combine exceptional strength with light weight and outstanding weather resistance. Importantly for the school environment, they are also relatively easy to maintain and can handle a significant amount of physical impact.

Why Aluminium Composite Panels?

Strength and Durability: Robust enough to resist dents and minor vandalism.
Ease of Replacement: In the rare event of serious damage, individual panels could be swapped out without dismantling the whole installation.
Vivid Colour Reproduction: Our digital printing process ensured that every detail of the designer’s vision would be reproduced with vibrant, long-lasting colour.
Weatherproofing: The panels could withstand the UK’s often unpredictable weather, including rain, frost, and strong sunlight.
Low Maintenance: With the anti-graffiti laminate, any unwanted graffiti could be quickly and easily removed using a solvent cleaner without damaging the printed graphics underneath.

The combination of digitally printed ACP and anti-graffiti protection offered exactly the balance of practicality, durability, and aesthetic quality the school needed.

Installation: Building a Framework for Success with Printed Aluminium panels

One of the early technical challenges we identified was the condition and structure of the gym’s external brick walls. Directly fixing panels onto the brickwork — even with raw plugs and screws — would have been difficult and could have led to uneven surfaces, misalignments, or even structural damage over time.

To overcome this, we designed and installed a treated timber batten subframe onto the brick surface. This approach offered several key benefits:

Smooth Surface: It allowed us to smooth out inconsistencies and irregularities in the brickwork.
Perfect Alignment: The battens provided a true and level fixing surface, ensuring that the panels lined up perfectly across the façade.
Secure Fixing: It allowed for strong, secure attachment of each panel using 8mm stainless steel flange head screws.

While some installations use plastic caps to cover screw heads for a cleaner look, we deliberately chose not to do so here. Over time, plastic caps can become brittle and fall off, leading to a patchy, unprofessional appearance. By using high-quality stainless steel screws, we ensured a neat, industrial-style finish that would maintain its appearance over the full lifespan of the installation.

To complete the system, external corners were finished using aluminium right-angle trims, which were then wrapped with digitally printed self-adhesive vinyl for a seamless, visually cohesive look.

Delivering the Vision: A Swift, High-Quality Installation

The entire installation was completed within eight working days. Despite some unpredictable weather during the fitting period, our experienced team worked efficiently to ensure the project stayed on schedule and delivered the quality that the school expected.

The final result was transformative. The once drab, uninspiring gymnasium walls were replaced with a vibrant, colourful panorama that immediately lifted the entire playground environment. The children loved it, the staff were thrilled, and the school leadership was delighted to see their vision brought to life.

It’s always satisfying to see how thoughtful design, combined with smart materials and expert project management, can have such a profound impact on a community space.

Reflections on the Project

This project at William Morris Junior School exemplifies the Project Print Management approach:

Tailored Solutions: Every project is unique, and we take pride in developing customised solutions that meet our clients’ specific needs.
Expert Consultation: From initial concept through to material selection, structural planning, and installation, we support our clients at every stage.
Quality and Durability: We believe that great design deserves to last — and we build our projects accordingly.
Professional Delivery: Timely, tidy, and professional installation is just as important as the materials we use.

Whether working on schools, heritage buildings, commercial properties, or public spaces, we bring the same commitment to excellence to every project.

Interested in Transforming Your Space with Printed Aluminium panels?

If you’re considering a refurbishment project — whether at a school, a commercial site, or a public facility — digitally printed aluminium cladding could be the perfect solution.

At Project Print Management, we offer:

Full design consultation and project management
Access to the latest print technologies and material innovations
High-quality production and finishing
Expert installation teams nationwide
Ongoing maintenance advice and support

Contact us today to discuss your ideas and find out how we can help bring your vision to life. We’re always happy to offer advice and a no-obligation quote.

For inspiration and to see more examples of our recent work, please visit our Blog Page or explore our Video Gallery.

Transform spaces. Inspire people. Deliver quality. That’s the Project Print Management promise.