Beard has started construction work on the state-of-the-art STEM centre for Richmond upon Thames College. The Guildford office of award-winning contractor Beard has begun work on a state-of-the-art STEM centre (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) at Richmond upon Thames College. Awarded through the Procure Partnerships Framework, the £10 million project
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter has carried out more than £3.5 million pounds worth of specialist refurbishment works in the education sector, whilst schools and colleges were closed for the summer holidays. Alongside a strong work bank of new-build education works across the region totalling more than
Morgan Sindall has been appointed by the City of London Academies Trust (COLAT) and the Department for Education to deliver major upgrades to Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre. The project at the free sixth form college, situated on Barking Road, has been procured through the Department for Education’s (DfE) construction
Your Co-op Little Pioneers nursery and Pre-school, which has more than 45 nurseries and pre-schools in the UK, is set to deliver a new nursery at the popular Graven Hill development. Your Co-op will manage the construction of the nursery, on a 0.38 acres site close to the new Warriner
Mace has completed the UCL Marshgate building, part of the first phase of UCL’s new campus at East Bank on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Marshgate is UCL’s single largest building to date providing over 35,000sqm of cross-disciplinary teaching, research and learning spaces over eight floors. Designed by architects Stanton Williams
In a concerning turn of events, over 100 schools across England are grappling with the urgent need to secure their buildings, which contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The issue at hand revolves around the safety of these structures, which have been deemed potentially prone to collapse. With the safety
Morgan Sindall has completed work on a new school in Warwick. Kenilworth School and Sixth Form is part of Warwick District Council’s plans to increase school places and improve facilities in the region. The project involved Kenilworth School & Sixth Form relocating from two existing sites to a new facility
The construction of the 420-pupil primary school development at Graven Hill has completed and is being handed over to the Warriner Multi Academy Trust to welcome children from the 11th September 2023. Delivered on a three-acre site and funded by the Graven Hill development, the school was constructed by Kier
The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed Kier to deliver the redevelopment of Oak Academy in Bournemouth. A new campus design for the 900-place secondary school will replace the existing buildings on site, have a more concise and efficient layout, and will provide a variety of learning spaces, including science
An engineering, environmental, and planning consultancy’s education sector experience will be utilised on the build of a new net zero school in North Wales. Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph, Bangor, Altrincham, Nottingham, and Kent, has secured the contract with Cyngor Gwynedd to deliver civil and structural work on
Beard has started construction work on the state-of-the-art STEM centre for Richmond upon Thames College. The Guildford office of award-winning contractor Beard has begun work on a state-of-the-art STEM centre (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) at Richmond upon Thames College. Awarded through the Procure Partnerships Framework, the £10 million project will see the construction of the new three-storey building, combining specialist classrooms and training spaces for science, engineering and construction, forensic sciences, computing and robotics. It will also consist of cutting-edge workshops, laboratories and even a laboratory for crime scene science. Each floor of the steel-frame building will be 1,300 square metres and will be fitted with an external cladding system to complement the existing college campus. To support biodiversity, the STEM centre will feature a wildflower roof and photovoltaic solar panels. Beard, along with architect 3BM and structural engineers HDR, have started work at the college’s brownfield site, following demolition of the existing building. Despite work taking place during term time, the active site is independent from the rest of the campus. Nonetheless, Beard has worked closely with the college to minimise disruption and ensure safety, implementing designated walkways and hoardings, as well as utilising traffic marshals and multiple entrances. The project, which is set to complete in the summer of 2024, is part of a wider whole site redevelopment of the college. The STEM centre marks phase two of works and follows the merger of Harrow, Richmond upon Thames and Uxbridge colleges (HRUC). Tom Jenkinson, director for Guildford, said: “Beard is well known within the education sector for building outstanding spaces for teaching and learning. We are delighted to be chosen by the college to deliver this modern addition to its campus. We have been working closely with the college and all our partners to ensure that the centre truly is state-of-the-art and provides the necessary spaces to meet the bespoke needs of each subject and specialist discipline. “With work now underway, we look forward to showcasing our expertise in the sector and delivering a sophisticated facility that will support today’s STEM learners and future cohorts.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter has carried out more than £3.5 million pounds worth of specialist refurbishment works in the education sector, whilst schools and colleges were closed for the summer holidays. Alongside a strong work bank of new-build education works across the region totalling more than £25m in the previous year, the business has had a hugely successful summer period in its dedicated minor works division, delivery a huge portfolio of rapid-delivery, complex refurbishment projects in education assets across the region. One of the projects included the creation of a new multi-use games area (MUGA) at St Hugh’s School in Scunthorpe. The sheltered MUGA will enable students to utilise the area in most weather conditions, transforming an area which was previously unusable for the special educational needs (SEN) students at the school. Jonathan Kenyon, who is the head teacher at the school, said: “We would like to share our heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional work that has gone into the construction to the school MUGA. The result is truly outstanding and a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved. “The MUGA is a massive, valuable addition to our school, and it will undoubtedly benefit our students for years to come and enrich their learning journey. It’s thanks to the team from Hobson & Porter, who go above and beyond that we can provide such enriching opportunities for our students, and we are truly fortunate to have had such a committed team working on our project.” For East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Hobson & Porter has refurbished four science classrooms, a prep room and office, as well as replacing pipework, cabling and mechanical ventilation at Beverley High School. It has also refurbished both flat and pitched roofs, as well as tennis courts at Howden School and a timber framed extension at Hornsea Primary School. At Swanland Primary School in East Yorkshire the company has upgraded the heating and hot water systems, boilers, hot water storage and distribution pipework. For York County Council, Hobson & Porter has worked at three schools over the summer – Clifton Green Primary School, Huntington Primary Academy and Yearsley Grove Primary School. The works included building a new, secure lobby at Clifton Green Primary School, with a revised access ramp and a relocation of the reception and visitor counter. Internal alterations included an upgraded meeting room, head office and new offices with replacement windows. The firm has also extended a meeting room and refurbished the car park, with three new access gates and overhead lighting. At Huntington School, Hobson & Porter has re-roofed a building and made modifications to the drainage system, and at Yearsley Grove Primary School the firm has also carried out re-roofing works, as well as upgrades to the heating and electricity supplies. Sam Robertson, from Hobson & Porter’s minor works division, said: “When it comes to the education sector, we have more than fifty years of experience of mobilising our teams for a huge uplift in education refurbishment and repurposing work over the summer months. We appreciate how important it is to work to a set timeframe so that we can have everything handed over and ready for the start of term. These projects are often incredibly intricate and require a real hands-on approach to deal with the unforeseen challenges which arise. Thankfully we can rely on our hugely experienced, directly employed team of management staff and operatives to deliver to our steadfast standards in these circumstances. “We’ve worked across a huge portfolio of primary, secondary, further and higher education buildings in the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region and we value our relationships with a diverse set of clients in the education sector. Creating an inspiring environment for pupils to learn and thrive in is something we are hugely committed too, and our proven track record for delivering on our promises means that we always have a very busy schedule of works to carry out not only in the summer break, but also during all academic holidays throughout the year.” As well as refurbishment works, Hobson & Porter is also highly skilled at delivering new build projects for schools and colleges in the region. The firm has recently broken ground on a new £7m primary school in Northallerton for North Yorkshire Council and Dales Academies and has recently handed over a £6m new-build project at Fulford School in York, where it has built a new English, drama and art centre for the South York Multi-Academy Trust. Hobson & Porter is also building a £5m technical, engineering and construction facility at York College and recently completed projects for The University of Sheffield and Humber Engineering Training Association (HETA). The firm has also recently broken ground on the pioneering £10m Horizon Youth Zone in Grimsby. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has been appointed by the City of London Academies Trust (COLAT) and the Department for Education to deliver major upgrades to Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre. The project at the free sixth form college, situated on Barking Road, has been procured through the Department for Education’s (DfE) construction framework. Work will take place across two buildings, with the former East Ham Police Station set to be refurbished and a new structure built at the rear of the building, providing a new, high quality teaching space for students. The two buildings will be connected via a glass façade dining hall. Across both the new structure and refurbished building, Newham Collegiate will benefit from an additional 11 classrooms and four seminar rooms, creating an additional 60 places for the school. Two new cycle stores will be built to encourage healthy and sustainable travel for prospective students. Morgan Sindall will also install a green roof with over 100 sq. m of photovoltaic (PV) panels across all roofs on site. As part of Morgan Sindall’s commitment to delivering social value to the communities in which it operates, the project team are already underway in engaging with the local Newham community. To date, the tier one contractor has hosted four different events at local schools and provided students with the opportunity for work experience and mock interviews. Throughout the project, the Morgan Sindall team will continue to generate social value in Newham, educating the next generation on careers in the construction industry that they may not have previously considered. Morgan Sindall is working alongside engineers Ingleton Wood and architects Rivington Street Studios. Alongside the work at Newham Collegiate, Morgan Sindall is delivering a new residential development in Newham that will bring hundreds of much-needed affordable homes to the area. Manor Road Quarter, from The English Cities Fund (ECF), is currently under construction and when complete will deliver 804 homes, of which 50% are affordable, to the London Borough of Newham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Your Co-op Little Pioneers nursery and Pre-school, which has more than 45 nurseries and pre-schools in the UK, is set to deliver a new nursery at the popular Graven Hill development. Your Co-op will manage the construction of the nursery, on a 0.38 acres site close to the new Warriner Academy Trust primary school, with the build set to commence shortly. White Commercial Surveyors advised Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC). Sally Bonnar, chief operating officer for the Childcare Group at The Midcounties Co-operative said: “We are investing significantly in our Little Pioneers nurseries in the coming years, and our new Bicester site is another step on that journey. “As part of a co-operative, our focus is always on doing the right thing by our children and our communities, providing a nurturing, safe and rewarding environment in which our children can develop and enjoy themselves, while also helping them to learn about the communities and world they are living in. I can’t wait to see the nursery once it’s complete” Adrian Unitt, Operations Director at Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC), added: “We are delighted to welcome Little Pioneers to the site. The nursery will be built and run by Your Co-op, which is an ethical member-owned childcare business, with Ofsted reports at its UK-wide nursery sites that are consistently good or outstanding. “Providing early years and pre-school learning, with healthy meals freshly prepared on site, it will be a fantastic addition to the growing community here at Graven Hill. “Ultimately we are delivering a well-connected development with a rich character and strong sense of place that has a positive effect on both the direct and wider community. Our contribution to the local and regional economy is growing with every home built and our success story is only part way through its journey.” This is the latest in a number of community amenities to be announced at the 550-acre development. Market Square Dental recently opened its state-of-the-art five surgery practice and Wine Rack and Wine Valley Cocktail Bar opened on the 19th August. White Commercial Surveyors is providing commercial property advice on all of the commercial amenities and existing retail units which are currently under offer. There is also a further site available for a pub restaurant at the frontage of the development. Chris White, MD at White Commercial Surveyors said: “Achieving a critical mass of residents living at the Graven Hill site has been essential in attracting sustainable commercial operators to the site. By delivering custom build and apartments, alongside self-build, there are now almost 500 homes occupied at the site and this footfall has undoubtedly attracted our second operator. “We are delighted to introduce a new nursery to the site and wish Your Co-op Little Pioneers and Preschool every success as Graven Hill continues to develop. We also continue to seek a pub/restaurant occupier for the prominent frontage site and have other retail units and office space available, for those seeking an attractive location near a railway station, and within easy reach of Bicester, Oxford and London.” Graven Hill is the UK’s largest self and custom build residential development situated close to the Bicester Village Designer Outlet in Oxfordshire. Significant amenities planned include a sports pavilion, pitches and allotments. A community centre is also set to be delivered by the local council. GHVDC is also seeking local contractors to tender for its next phase of new homes and apartments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mace has completed the UCL Marshgate building, part of the first phase of UCL’s new campus at East Bank on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Marshgate is UCL’s single largest building to date providing over 35,000sqm of cross-disciplinary teaching, research and learning spaces over eight floors. Designed by architects Stanton Williams to provide new spaces for collaborative thinking, Marshgate unites activities across the arts, technology and science under one roof. Enabling students and staff to immerse themselves in innovative activities and cutting edge research. The floors are clustered into a series of ‘neighbourhoods’, each with its own double-height collaboration space to encourage cross-disciplinary knowledge share. The lower levels of the building include a network of publicly accessible spaces, with a café, exhibitions, art programmes, and activities, designed to draw the public into the heart of the building. The building creates a key interface with the wider Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park community. Its publicly accessible lower floors feature a curated programme of art and activities, including works by local artists, and landscaped outdoor settings providing a newly animated and accessible public realm. During construction Mace partnered with the UCL Plastics Waste Innovation Hub to replace all single-use plastics with fully reusable modular hoarding panels, recognised by LLDC as the new standard for all hoarding across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Reflecting UCL’s overarching mission to embed sustainability through its campus and culture, durability and energy efficiency were central to the design approach. The BREEAM Excellent-rated building is powered in part by renewable electricity, with the aim to reach net zero carbon by 2035 in keeping with the district’s wider sustainable energy strategy. Terry Spraggett, MD Public Sector Construction, Mace said: “Together with UCL, the project team and our supply chain partners’ we’ve delivered an outstanding building. We are immensely proud to be part of this journey. Marshgate is exceptional in its vision – championing collaboration not just between the students and academics but including the wider public. Working closely with the community has been key for us to ensure we create long-term social value for the wider campus. I can’t wait to see Marshgate open and all the great ideas and innovations come to life.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In a concerning turn of events, over 100 schools across England are grappling with the urgent need to secure their buildings, which contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The issue at hand revolves around the safety of these structures, which have been deemed potentially prone to collapse. With the safety of students and staff at the forefront, schools have been tasked with implementing precautionary measures, which could entail the complex task of shoring up ceilings and ensuring structural integrity. Amid this concrete crisis, WSW Refurbishments has emerged as a vital player, offering innovative solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. Collaborating closely with a team of seasoned engineers in the South East, WSW Refurbishments has been at the forefront of aiding in the identification of cases. Engineering Expertise in the South East One of the standout aspects of WSW Refurbishments’ involvement in this endeavour is its collaboration with expert engineers based in the South East. This partnership has enabled the company to tap into a wealth of specialised knowledge and experience in dealing with complex structural challenges. Creating Access and Safety To address the issue effectively, WSW Refurbishments has been instrumental in creating safe access to the affected areas within school buildings. This process is essential for both inspection and subsequent remediation efforts. Working Hand-in-Hand with Structural Engineers and Surveying Experts The collaboration between WSW Refurbishments, structural engineers, and surveying experts has been pivotal in formulating precise strategies to ensure the structural stability of the affected buildings. These professionals have joined forces to conduct thorough assessments and identify areas of concern. A Comprehensive Solution Across the South East Understanding the urgency and magnitude of the issue, WSW Refurbishments has dedicated extensive efforts to develop innovative procedures for aiding trusts and schools in identifying structural concerns. This commitment extends across the South East region, where the company has been actively engaged in assisting with building assessments and facilitating necessary actions. WSW Refurbishments’ proactive approach underscores its determination to support educational institutions in addressing critical safety challenges, ensuring a secure environment for students and staff members. Liaising with Schools to Ensure Smooth Operations Throughout this process, WSW Refurbishments has maintained open lines of communication with schools to coordinate their efforts and minimise the impact on students’ daily routines. This collaborative approach underscores the company’s commitment to delivering effective solutions while prioritising the well-being of all those involved. A Trusted Partner for Schools WSW Refurbishments’ track record of working with numerous schools over the years has positioned the company as a trusted partner in these critical times. The ability to adapt and address the concrete crisis reflects WSW Refurbishments’ commitment to safety and its expertise in handling complex structural challenges. As schools in England navigate the concrete safety issue, WSW Refurbishments remains dedicated to providing innovative solutions and ensuring the security and stability of educational facilities. In the face of adversity, WSW Refurbishments stands as a beacon of expertise and commitment to the safety of students and staff in schools across the South East. Colin Cheek, Managing Director of WSW Refurbishments, explains, “We have been working with a number of strategic partners to help locate and identify the concrete whereabouts, it is important parties work together to create a coordinated approach to tackling this challenge and ensuring Schools are safe for our children. I have no doubt more and more public buildings will be identified as needing work. Targeted sections of many of these structures will need additional support, or if identified as dangerous, this will require partial or complete demolition”. Established in 2008, WSW Refurbishments was created to set the standard in the refurbishment space. A family-owned private company that has strong values in ensuring a high standard of quality to provide all clients with a strong level of service. We believe that every space has the potential to inspire, and we are committed to helping out. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has completed work on a new school in Warwick. Kenilworth School and Sixth Form is part of Warwick District Council’s plans to increase school places and improve facilities in the region. The project involved Kenilworth School & Sixth Form relocating from two existing sites to a new facility at Southcrest Farm, Glasshouse Lane in Kenilworth. Spanning over 36 acres of land, the new three-story campus offers 2,200 places, an increase of 440, helping to cater for the growing population in Kenilworth, a market town six miles southwest of Coventry. Procured through the Pagabo Framework and delivered for Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust (KMAT) and Warwick District Council, the school is now one of the largest in the UK. The design includes extensive teaching and social provision including two floodlit all-weather pitches, natural grass pitches and hard-court areas; a dining room with “grab-and-go” options, hall and theatre, community sports and changing facilities, and a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) suite. Following completion, the community and local sports clubs will have use of new sports and leisure facilities, and community groups will be able to hire the hall/theatre and other facilities at the school. The local air cadet group, 496 (Kenilworth & Balsall Common) Squadron, have also been invited to share the facilities. Richard Fielding, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “KMAT already had an existing reputation as one of the best schools in the area, so it was an honour to be a part of developing it even further. The completion of the new school marks exciting progress in the provision of public services for the growing town of Kenilworth. We are delighted to have completed construction works on one of the largest schools to have been built in the UK, and to deliver facilities which will benefit not only students and staff at the school, but the wider community for years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The construction of the 420-pupil primary school development at Graven Hill has completed and is being handed over to the Warriner Multi Academy Trust to welcome children from the 11th September 2023. Delivered on a three-acre site and funded by the Graven Hill development, the school was constructed by Kier on behalf of Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) and Oxfordshire County Council. The building has been designed with enhanced thermal values and high performance materials to the principles of Net Zero Carbon and achieved a BREEAM* Very Good rating. The photovoltaic panels will also provide power to the local grid when the school is not in use. As well as reducing the amount of heat and energy the school will use, the design also maximises natural ventilation in order to deliver a healthy place to learn. Andy Bolas, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “We are delighted to have delivered a state-of-the-art new primary school for Graven Hill. The school has been designed and built to provide students and teachers with sustainable learning facilities which will serve the community well for decades to come.” Adrian Unitt Operations Director at GHVDC said: “We have overcome huge challenges in the UK construction industry, from significant inflation of costs to access to materials, so it is fantastic that we have succeeded in delivering the primary school prior to the occupation of the 550th home at Graven Hill. “Designed to promote collaboration and flexible learning, the new school will enhance the great sense of community spirit here. With a focus on great architecture, the building has been designed to reduce energy and water consumption, enhance ecology, protect biodiversity and maximise natural ventilation.” The two-form entry school is being run by the Warriner Academy Trust. It provides 12 classrooms, specialist facilities for art, design and technology and more than 13,000 sq. m of pitches, play and multi-use games areas. The early years facility will accommodate a further 90 pupils aged between 2-4 years in three classrooms, with dedicated facilities and play areas. The capacity of the site also enables the school to expand to three-forms of entry in future. Annabel Kay, CEO of the Warriner Multi Academy Trust said: “We are so excited by the opportunity to work closely with members of the Graven Hill community to ensure that the primary school is one that we are all proud of and, most importantly, one where our children can thrive. Being able to develop and establish a culture happens very rarely and we are all determined to make our school the very best that it can be. Both Keir and the GHVDC have worked so hard to deliver the most wonderful school for all of our children and we look forward to welcoming the community through our doors”. Cllr Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property at Oxfordshire County Council said: “I know how much residents in Graven Hill have been looking forward to the opening of their primary school. A school stands at the heart of its community so this marks an important point in the development of Graven Hill. Thank you to the team who have worked so well together to deliver the school at the start of the new academic year. I hope it will be the home of many happy memories for pupils – this year and for many years to come.” Graven Hill remains a hugely popular development. Unique and diverse, it offers a wide range of housing options from self-build and custom build, which can be tailored to your needs, to apartments and affordable homes. Significant amenities planned include a sports pavilion, pitches and allotments. A community centre is also set to be delivered by the local council. GHVDC is also seeking local contractors to tender for its next phase of new homes and apartments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed Kier to deliver the redevelopment of Oak Academy in Bournemouth. A new campus design for the 900-place secondary school will replace the existing buildings on site, have a more concise and efficient layout, and will provide a variety of learning spaces, including science and technology classrooms and improved facilities to cover sport, music, drama and SEND provision. Oak Academy will be net zero carbon in its operation, in line with the DfE’s latest output specification requirements. It will be a thermally efficient building incorporating the use of air source heat pump technology and a full bio-solar roof incorporating photovoltaic panels. The project is funded through the DfE’s School Rebuilding Programme, which was announced in 2020, and is addressing either the rebuilding or major refurbishment of 500 schools with the highest condition need. The building has been designed using Kier’s kSchool design platform to reflect the school’s desire to serve as the heart of the community. The H-shaped layout centres around an open dining space with glazed elevations, adjacent courtyards to encourage socialising and learning, and configurations to allow the school hall, sports hall and changing facilities to be used by the wider community after hours. Kier is committed to providing support to the school throughout the design, build, handover and post occupancy phases to ensure that they derive the maximum benefit and most efficient operation from their new building. Mark Norris, operations director at Kier Construction London & Southern, said: “We are delighted to be appointed by the Department for Education to create a new home for Oak Academy, one which will deliver improved, sustainable facilities for students, staff and the community. “This innovative net zero carbon in operation project will combine improved facilities under one roof, making more efficient use of the site’s footprint and allow the school to increase its student and staff intake. “We look forward to using our wealth of first-class education facility experience to bring this project to fruition, positively impacting the wider community and its next generation of talent.” Oak Academy is part of the Ambitions Academies Trust, a multi-academy trust serving schools in or close to the Bournemouth and Weymouth areas. The Trust’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Principal and Directors have been involved with the project from the start. Sian Thomas, CEO at Ambitions Academies Trust commented: “We are excited that Oak Academy will have a new school with such superb facilities. Ensuring that future generations will have a great school in which to thrive is so important and means a lot to the whole community.” This appointment is the latest appointment for Kier on the Department for Education Construction framework and further strengthens its position as a leading provider of educational facilities across the UK. Recent appointments include Emmanuel School, a new sustainable community primary school in Havering; Carew Academy, a new SEND school in Wallington; Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School, a partial rebuild project in Wotton-under-Edge; and Thomas Keble School, a new secondary school in Gloucester. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An engineering, environmental, and planning consultancy’s education sector experience will be utilised on the build of a new net zero school in North Wales. Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph, Bangor, Altrincham, Nottingham, and Kent, has secured the contract with Cyngor Gwynedd to deliver civil and structural work on the new Community Campus in Bontnewydd near Caernarfon. Funded via the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools’ Challenge, £12 million will finance the net zero project, which includes community facilities on the wider campus, such as a hall, office space, and car charging points. There are currently two buildings on the site, a community centre located in a former Victorian school, and the current Ysgol Bontnewydd in a 1970’s building. Both are part of Cyngor Gwynedd’s plan to reuse materials, reducing the carbon footprint of the new development. Caulmert has so far completed a survey of the current school site to assess what can be repurposed prior to demolition and is set to carry out further investigations. Reflecting Wales’ net zero carbon mandate, the firm’s analysis of the current structures will feed into the building information modelling (BIM) team’s recommendations. David High, associate at Caulmert, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Cyngor Gwynedd again, they are a great client and we enjoyed working with them on the £9m new Ysgol Y Garnedd project in Bangor. “A key element of this project will focus on minimising carbon emissions for the construction process, keeping sustainability front of mind. “We welcome the opportunity to be part of such a pioneering scheme, a new net zero school in North Wales, which will no doubt set a precedent for other institutions in the region.” Richard Farmer, project manager at Cyngor Gwynedd, added: “Bontnewydd Community Campus is an exciting and innovative opportunity for us all. “The Welsh government has challenged us to demonstrate our vision for sustainable construction and community involvement in school construction. “Both the design process and the final building will be exemplars and we are pleased to welcome Caulmert to the team.” Cyngor Gwynedd also has plans to introduce as many types of renewable energy as possible, and to utilise surplus locally where achievable. A nearby river, Afon Gwyrfai, also has the potential to provide a source for hydroelectric and water source heat pumps. Transport to and from classes will factor into the school’s sustainable ethos too, with safe travel links for walking or cycling to be established. Founded in 2009, Caulmert is on track to meet an ambitious growth and development plan. Its expertise in a variety of planning, environmental and engineering disciplines is supported by its use of BIM to a level two standard in many of its projects. For more information visit www.caulmert.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
