South Nottinghamshire Academy in Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent, celebrated the official opening of its new teaching block named The Maple Building this month. Midlands-based main contractor G F Tomlinson lead on the construction and design the £2.6 million two-storey teaching block facility, which comprises new classrooms, a seminar room,
Puma Property Finance (Puma) is sponsoring the launch of UCL’s new world-class research centre focused on developing sustainable practices in the construction industry and the built environment. It’s the first centre of its kind in the UK. It is estimated that 39% of global energy related carbon emissions come from
Planning permission was granted last month for the extensive retrofit of 21 St. Albans Grove into an exemplary new junior school for Thomas’s Day Schools within the De Vere Conservation Area in Kensington, West London. The design, by award-winning architect, Ackroyd Lowrie introduces sensitive, modern interventions to tie together the
Leading Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson will spearhead the design and construction of the new £15.4m state-of-the-art Air and Space Institute (ASI) for Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, at the former cattle market site in Newark. The ASI provides a unique opportunity for school leavers aged 16-18
Balfour Beatty today announces that it has been awarded a c.£90 million contract by Fife College for the design and construction of a new learning campus in Dunfermline, Scotland. Balfour Beatty will be responsible for the delivery of three interlinking buildings spanning over 20,000m2, which will house state-of-the-art teaching facilities
Willmott Dixon has been appointed to work with the University of Exeter to complete detailed designs to build a new Multi-Faith Centre at Streatham Campus. Construction is due to start in summer this year. Exeter City Council recently approved plans to develop the Multi-Faith Centre, which will replace the existing
Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield, Staffordshire, celebrated the official opening of its £4.8m free school with the local community last week (Friday 13 January). The two-storey building, which was constructed by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson and completed in summer 2022, opened to 210 primary and 26 nursery pupils in
Sir Robert McAlpine has today announced practical completion of Co-op Academy Belle Vue in East Manchester, with the school opening this week. Formerly a 12.6-acre brownfield site hosting a Showcase Cinema, the new co-educational school will be home to 1,200 pupils when full and consists of a main three-storey building
Plans to develop a new secondary school fin the Burgess Hill area have been approved. West Sussex County Council and co-applicant Homes England’s plans to create a zero-carbon school were approval by Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee on 15 December 2022. Committee members praised the ‘excellent’ and ‘unique’ designs
Environmentally driven architectural practice, Lungfish Architects has successfully partnered with Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver more than £30m-worth of educational infrastructure in Derby, helping to generate 1,440 additional school places. Lungfish has designed and delivered some of Derby City Council and Derby County Council’s most recent transformative school projects including
South Nottinghamshire Academy in Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent, celebrated the official opening of its new teaching block named The Maple Building this month. Midlands-based main contractor G F Tomlinson lead on the construction and design the £2.6 million two-storey teaching block facility, which comprises new classrooms, a seminar room, independent study space, IT facilities, staff offices and welfare facilities. The building has been designed to provide enhanced learning areas for an additional 150 pupils. The opening ceremony was attended by Dan Philpotts, executive headteacher at South Nottinghamshire Academy, Andrew Burns, chief executive of Redhill Academy Trust. School staff, governors, G F Tomlinson colleagues, local dignitaries and other partner and community organisations were also in attendance. The scheme has been completed on behalf of South Nottinghamshire Academy, which was rated ‘Good’ in its most recent Ofsted report, and currently offers 600 places for children aged 11-16 plus sixth form students, with plans to accommodate the increasing need for school places in the area. “We’re pleased to see work has completed at South Nottinghamshire Academy. The expansion of the school means further school places can be provided for children within the area, which are currently in demand across the region. The new teaching block will help to enhance student’s learning and educational experience, and we look forward to seeing them make use of their new space,” said Chris Flint, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson. Since 2016, following relocation into a brand-new school building, the academy has been an integral part of Redhill Academy Trust which has a proven track record of enhancing school improvement. South Nottinghamshire Academy has continued to invest in its facilities, to meet the educational needs of current and future students, including a 3G floodlit pitch. As part of efforts to boost the environmental credentials on the project, heat recovery units were installed which enabled 100% of all warm air in the building to be reused, increasing energy efficiency. Our site management team also created a “Zen Zone” which involved fencing off a dedicated area for growing vegetables with a small green house, raised bed and benches made from recycled site materials to support their mental health and wellbeing. “The new Maple building accommodation will provide our school community with a long-lasting, modern-day facility that will undoubtedly enhance students’ educational experience. We are so proud of our first-class facilities, and we look forward to a very exciting future,” added Dan Philpotts, Executive Headteacher at South Nottinghamshire Academy. During construction, G F Tomlinson partnered with the academy generating social value through the provision of site tours, a careers fair and a mock interview day to enhance students’ understanding and awareness of the careers in construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Puma Property Finance (Puma) is sponsoring the launch of UCL’s new world-class research centre focused on developing sustainable practices in the construction industry and the built environment. It’s the first centre of its kind in the UK. It is estimated that 39% of global energy related carbon emissions come from the built environment. But despite its obvious centrality, the construction industry has historically been slow in developing sustainability initiatives. The new ‘Centre of Sustainable Governance and Law in the Built Environment’ seeks to address the challenge of building more with less emissions as the demand for more and better-quality housing increases. The two-year partnership will see the development of pioneering research designed to improve understanding of sustainability practices in the built environment and drive forward solutions. This includes research to identify the best measurement tools to accurately measure the environmental emissions and the social impact of construction projects and buildings; develop innovative financing models for construction projects; improve knowledge transfer; and decarbonise building stock. The centre will sit within the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction: the first built environment faculty in the UK, and one of the global leaders in this field. The ten-person research team will be led by Dr Armando Castro, an Associate Professor at UCL, who has been researching and writing about ESG related themes since 2014. Other team members’ expertise spans economics, finance, civil engineering, surveying, geography, management and law, in order to tackle and solve the wide-ranging issues across the industry. Puma has been a longstanding supporter of the drive towards greater sustainability in the construction industry. With this new partnership, Puma hopes to further inform the conversation and help the property finance industry to arrive at solutions that promote the next generation of the built environment. Paul Frost, managing director of Puma Property Finance, and member of the Centre’s Advisory Board comments: “We’re incredibly proud to sponsor UCL’s new research centre and play our part in significantly reducing the carbon impact of the construction industry. Delivering net zero buildings and retrofitting existing ones is a huge challenge, especially as we try to meet the demand for more and better quality housing, education facilities and suitable accommodation for our ageing population. “Progress can’t be achieved through policy and regulation alone; it requires collaboration across industry and academia, innovation, creativity and ambition if we’re to drive truly impactful change. “This new Centre offers an exciting opportunity to put that into practice, and we are delighted to be supporting its important work. The finance sector has enormous influence over the real estate that we build in this country and around the world. We can and must use that influence for the benefit of both current and future generations.” Dr Armando Castro, UCL adds: “This Centre has been launched in a critical time and has the purpose of sharing academic insights and knowledge, while connecting and fostering the dialogue between academics and practitioners of the built environment. This is greatly needed now since the construction industry and its players need to do more to address current societal concerns regarding their social and environmental impact. Further, universities’ research can be used for the greater good and should be shared more widely.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning permission was granted last month for the extensive retrofit of 21 St. Albans Grove into an exemplary new junior school for Thomas’s Day Schools within the De Vere Conservation Area in Kensington, West London. The design, by award-winning architect, Ackroyd Lowrie introduces sensitive, modern interventions to tie together the two historic buildings, one of which is Victorian, the other mid 20th Century, and revitalise the character of St Albans Grove with improved landscaping and boundary treatments. Ackroyd Lowrie, highly commended in the 2021 AJ Retrofit Awards, previously achieved planning consent for the conversion of the Royal Academy of Dance in Battersea to form a Secondary School for Thomas’s Day Schools. The firm’s managing director, Jon Ackroyd comments: “This project has been another opportunity to weave Thomas’s Schools ambitious brief into the fabric of two wonderful historic buildings that sit within a rich urban fabric. The challenge was to provide a modern and safe learning environment, whilst respecting the existing character, and upgrading the fabric to achieve ambitious energy targets. “The main move was to remove an insensitive extension that links the two historic buildings and introduce a light-filled central atrium that will be the heart of the school, including a new stair and lift to completely change the way the buildings are navigated. This atrium will also provide a new main entrance, and act as a welcoming, public face to the school. “The boundaries are also upgraded with extensive landscaping, and imaginative play spaces provide a range of different play atmospheres. We are extremely pleased with the positive outcome of this application and that our vision for this landmark school in such a prestigious neighbourhood is shared by the local authority.” Ackroyd Lowrie’s approved design will provide an exceptional, five storey school comprising 23 teaching classrooms for pupils from reception to year 6, sound proofed music rooms, libraries, dining halls, assembly hall, reception, head’s office, meeting/administration rooms, flexible community spaces and a planted biodiversity roof garden. Extensive consideration was given to landscaping to fulfil three criteria: minimising acoustic impact; creating privacy and safety; and improving the visual quality of Atlantic House’s front façade. A woodland-style quiet learning garden has been positioned nearest the neighbouring residential properties, while acoustic walls have been specified to surround free play/sports areas. On the façade facing St Albans Grove, a low brick plinth wall with natural stone coping will be built to delineate the school boundary and create a sense of security. It will also feature decorative railing incorporating the Thomas’s Day School logo to remain sympathetic with neighbouring properties. Existing listed trees are retained alongside the new roof garden, resulting in a biodiversity net gain of 21.73% over the current habitat value. Jon concludes: “Our overall approach follows passive design principles and seeks to refurb the majority (93%) of Atlantic House’s existing area and retain its shell and part of the frame. This includes upgrading the thermal fabric to above Building Regulation standards, which will significantly reduce associated heat losses from an old building and provide internal temperature control. Renewable energy technology including photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps will ensure maximum energy efficiency, flow restrictors on taps and dual flush toilets will reduce water consumption, and rainwater collection butts are specified for landscape irrigation. Finally, materials have been specified for a long lifespan and future adaptability.” Ackroyd Lowrie has worked in partnership with property design and development firm, Finchatton; planning consultant, Savills and project managers, Silver to achieve planning consent. Andrew Dunn, co founder of Finchatton said: “We are so thrilled to be expanding into the educational sector with the Thomas’s project. The new building has been designed to create a best in class environment for learning today as well as to be sensitive to the local community and its neighbours.” Nick de Lotbiniere, head of London planning, Savills added: “Savills are delighted to have acted as agents for the planning application for the new Junior school on behalf of Thomas’s School. The permission will see the repurposing and reuse of Atlantic House which has been vacant for a long period. The consent will also ensure that the school will continue to serve the Borough’s residents and provide excellent education for pupils in a new and enhanced facility, through a well-designed scheme.” Ashley Coull, associate director for project management consultant, Silver spoke about the client and team ethos: “It has been a privilege to be one of the partners in this flagship project for Thomas’s, working in collaboration with Thomas’s and the professional team committed to creating an engaging and inspiring school environment. We are looking forward to restoring these beautiful heritage buildings for future generations to enjoy, learn and grow.” Work on Atlantic House is expected to begin later this year with the aim for staff and students to move in for the 2024/25 academic year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson will spearhead the design and construction of the new £15.4m state-of-the-art Air and Space Institute (ASI) for Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, at the former cattle market site in Newark. The ASI provides a unique opportunity for school leavers aged 16-18 to train for pilot, engineer and ground-crew roles in airlines, the military, airports and logistics companies across the UK and abroad. The new three-storey building, which is due to complete at the end of 2023, will be only the second of this type of college building to be built in the UK and will provide world class training for the air and space industry, accommodating a full-sized Airbus A318 for hands-on teaching experience, alongside a double height entrance hall, large open space hangar, flight simulator, teaching zones and lecture and seminar areas for students and staff. The scheme will be finished off with a combination of soft and hard landscaping works. From conception, G F Tomlinson used BIM technology software to digitally map the complex build which includes numerous articulated angles, using world coordinate systems for the design and construction of the build. This allowed the contractors and Lincoln College Group to work the design and use real time updates to navigate the build through all the fundamental stages through to completion. The project was procured through the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson said: “We are delighted to be appointed as main contractor on the ASI which offers state-of-the-art training for students at a brand-new campus in the heart of Newark. “We are extremely pleased to have secured this project under the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works. Through our early contractor involvement and close collaboration with the Client team, we look forward to turning Lincoln College Group’s vision into a reality by providing a world-class training facility for young people throughout the region.” Lincoln College Group Director of ASI and Strategic Growth, Tom Marsden said: Lincoln College Group Director of ASI and Strategic Growth, Tom Marsden said: “Like the whole of the town, we’re hugely excited about the progress being made on site and we can’t wait to see the building. Young people completing their GCSEs this year can apply for our engineer, pilot, space engineering, groundcrew and military pathways now and they will benefit from these fabulous new facilities during their course, as well as the chance to fly in our ASI aircraft and flight simulators.” Councillor David Lloyd, Co-Chair of Newark Town Board and Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It is fantastic to see the vision for the Air and Space Institute coming to life in Newark and I know many local people are looking forward to having this huge asset in our district. Providing skills locally is a key driver for the whole package of projects being funded under Newark’s Town Fund initiative. “The ASI will be a huge boost for Newark’s inspiring generations of future pilots, ground crew and engineers to see its new home when it is completed. It will help shape the ambition for Newark’s future, making it a place people want to live, work, study and visit and I look forward to seeing the progress over the forthcoming years.” To find out more about the ASI Newark, please visit: https://asi-newark.co.uk To find out more about G F Tomlinson, please visit: https://gftomlinson.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty today announces that it has been awarded a c.£90 million contract by Fife College for the design and construction of a new learning campus in Dunfermline, Scotland. Balfour Beatty will be responsible for the delivery of three interlinking buildings spanning over 20,000m2, which will house state-of-the-art teaching facilities and learning spaces for students, staff and business clients. As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting, positive legacy for the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty has committed to 50% of its workforce being made up of people from the local, surrounding area. Once complete, the campus will bring together c.4,500 school pupils and college students from Fife College, St Columba’s RC High School and Woodmill High School. Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to design and construct the new Fife College campus in Dunfermline, testament to our significant experience and expertise in delivering further education projects in Scotland. “Throughout, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to positively impacting local communities and stimulating economic growth, providing numerous employment opportunities for local people as well as work experience placements for students.” Main construction is scheduled to commence later this month. At peak construction, Balfour Beatty will employ approximately 400 people including a number of apprenticeship and graduate positions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has been appointed to work with the University of Exeter to complete detailed designs to build a new Multi-Faith Centre at Streatham Campus. Construction is due to start in summer this year. Exeter City Council recently approved plans to develop the Multi-Faith Centre, which will replace the existing Muslim prayer rooms and multi-faith spaces in the Old Library with a 50 person Muslim prayer space and a multi-faith space. It will also house communal meeting space, a kitchen, a dedicated office for the Multifaith Chaplaincy Team, a Changing Places facility and an external terrace area. “We are really excited to progress our plans for the new Multi-Faith Centre. The University is committed to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion and developing cultural competence working with partners across Exeter and Cornwall, and the wider region,” said Shraddha Chaudhary, Assistant Director for Culture and Inclusion at the University of Exeter. Sustainability and reducing carbon emissions are fundamental to the design of the new Multi-Faith Centre, which aims to achieve the Passivhaus standard. Features include the use of highly efficient porotherm blocks, air source heat pumps and PV panels on the building’s roof. Willmott Dixon has been working with a professional team, that includes Faithful and Gould, Group Emmett Design, SE3Design, Sands, SDS and ARUP. “Having worked with the University of Exeter on a number of projects, we are looking forward to delivering this new and inclusive Multi-Faith Centre and supporting the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, culture and heritage of its students and the wider community. This project aligns with our commitment to push the boundaries of sustainable design construction and operation of building,” added Rob Woolcock, Director at Willmott Dixon. The contractor has worked for the University of Exeter before on several projects. It has also several Passivhaus projects under its belt, including the Centre for Medicine at the University of Leicester and the Harris Academy in Sutton. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield, Staffordshire, celebrated the official opening of its £4.8m free school with the local community last week (Friday 13 January). The two-storey building, which was constructed by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson and completed in summer 2022, opened to 210 primary and 26 nursery pupils in autumn last year – being the first school to be built in the area in over 40 years. “We’re delighted to have marked the official opening of Fradley Park Primary School, working collaboratively alongside Staffordshire County Council and Entrust, which has provided much-needed school places for young children within the local area. The brand-new facilities and state-of-the-art classrooms have created enhanced environments for children to learn and grow, and the ceremony was a great opportunity to see them explore their fantastic new school,” said Kevin Dodds, Construction Director at G F Tomlinson. The opening ceremony was attended by Ben Robinson, High Sheriff and County Councillor Jonathan Price from Staffordshire County Council, Construction Director Kevin Dodds from G F Tomlinson, and CEO of John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust Mike Donoghue. As well as approximately 50 guests, comprising school staff and governors, John Taylor MAT directors and members, and colleagues from the local authority and other partner and community organisations. “I was really pleased to officially open Fradley Park Primary, which is the latest primary school in the county to be built in response to growing demand for school places in the area. It’s been great to see the first classes of children settling in well to their new school, which looks to be a fantastic place for them to start their education journey,” commented Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education Jonathan Price. The occasion was marked with speeches and a presentation of the school’s journey, before the Lichfield school was officially opened by Ben Robinson, High Sheriff of Staffordshire County Council and County Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND. The school was delivered through the Staffordshire County Council Framework, and project managed by Entrust, and is now being managed by the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust. This is one of six educational schemes that G F Tomlinson has delivered within Staffordshire alongside Entrust, with the Derby-headquartered firm recently completing the latest scheme – Bramshall Meadows First School in Uttoxeter. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sir Robert McAlpine has today announced practical completion of Co-op Academy Belle Vue in East Manchester, with the school opening this week. Formerly a 12.6-acre brownfield site hosting a Showcase Cinema, the new co-educational school will be home to 1,200 pupils when full and consists of a main three-storey building including reception, community hub, library and dining hall, with a teaching block and adjoining drama block. The new Co-op Academy Belle Vue also boasts a two-storey sports block with Sports England-standard pitches and a multi-use games area behind it that will accommodate a range of sports including tennis and basketball and training for netball and hockey. The sports block was built with separate access for the wider East Manchester community, and both school and community will be served by Co-op Academy Belle Vue’s new 140-space car park with electric charging points and play area. Sir Robert McAlpine worked closely with an array of stakeholders on the project, from sub-contractors to the Co-op Academies Trust. Co-op Academies Trust has 30 schools and colleges across the north of England and was appointed by the Department for Education in cooperation with Manchester City Council to run Co-op Academy Belle Vue since its first intake of year 7 students in September 2021. Co-op Academy Belle Vue operated from temporary premises in Connell Co-op College, East Manchester whilst Sir Robert McAlpine was working on the new site. With the end user in mind, principles of education and community engagement guided the project at all stages. Sir Robert McAlpine hosted two students at a time from a nearby construction college to provide practical hands-on site experience during the build, and it supported subcontractor Marlborough in providing bricklaying demonstrations at a local college, in a move to help address the current skills gap. In addition, the project was named ‘Best Framework Collaboration Project’ at the Pagabo awards last year alongside Faithful+Gould and Manchester City Council. Paul Quinn, Sir Robert McAlpine’s Regional Director – North West & Yorkshire, commented, “We are proud to deliver this new state-of-the-art school for East Manchester. The project is testament to the cooperation and positivity of our teams. Spaces for young people and communities to come together, learn and thrive are so important, and we hope East Manchester enjoys all that Belle Vue has to offer.” Dr Chris Tomlinson, CEO of the Co-op Academies Trust, said, “We are delighted the students can move in and start enjoying Co-op Academy Belle Vue’s state of the art new site. It may not be a new school year, but it’s a new year nonetheless, and it’s great to see it in by looking forward to delivering all the ambitious and aspirational young futures this new site will help Co-op Academy Belle Vue’s students to achieve. My sincere thanks to Vicki England, Project Manager for Co-op Academies Trust, Sir Robert McAlpine and all the teams involved.” Jonathan Parker, Head of Construction at Pagabo, said: “I’m delighted to see this fantastic project reach completion, with the state-of-the-art facilities now ready for students to take advantage of. Manchester City Council engaged with Pagabo to appoint both a consultant and contractor for the scheme. Our Professional Services and Major Works frameworks provided the perfect solutions, with Faithful+Gould and Sir Robert McAlpine appointed in a quick and compliant manner. The collaboration between the entire project team has been clear to see from day one and is a huge reason why they were recognised for this at our yearly awards ceremony in 2022.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to develop a new secondary school fin the Burgess Hill area have been approved. West Sussex County Council and co-applicant Homes England’s plans to create a zero-carbon school were approval by Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee on 15 December 2022. Committee members praised the ‘excellent’ and ‘unique’ designs before voting unanimously in favour. The ambitious design will allow the school to generate its own renewable energy on site without using any fossil fuels. It aims to be the first school in West Sussex to achieve Passivhaus certification, the highest standard of energy efficiency a building can reach, and offer excellent educational facilities to 900 local children. The school will be created at Homes England’s new Brookleigh development near Burgess Hill to provide a high-quality education to families of the 3,500 homes and the surrounding area. “Planning approval marks a major milestone in our ambition to create an environmentally-friendly and high-quality new secondary school in Mid Sussex. It is uniquely designed to achieve Passivhaus certification and lead the way in energy efficiency. In addition, Brookleigh families will be able to walk or cycle to their new place of education, again demonstrating the County Council’s commitment to significantly reducing carbon emissions as part of our Climate Change Strategy. By creating this modern and high standard school, we are investing in our children’s future and in the long-term future of our county,” said Nigel Jupp, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills. West Sussex County Council has approved capital funding of £57.060m to build the secondary school, making it the largest capital project the council has delivered. This includes a £18.159m contribution from Homes England as part of the overall development. The new secondary school is being delivered through the County Council’s multi-disciplinary consultancy partnership with Faithful+Gould, with Atkins and Cundalls leading on the design. The school will include a Special Support Centre enabling children with special educational needs and disabilities to be supported to learn in a mainstream school. Net-zero in operation, the building has energy efficiency at the heart of every area of its design. Its position will provide maximum sunlight to nearly 1,000 solar photovoltaic panels generating an estimated 296,000 kWh of energy a year. The LED lighting will be controlled automatically by daylight and movement detection. The main building will have fresh air ventilation, keeping the school a comfortable temperature, even in extreme heat. “This is a really positive step forward for the proposed school which has been designed to promote well-being and educational attainment for all learners who use the building and create a project with a low environmental impact,” concluded Richard Christmas, lead designer at Atkins. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Environmentally driven architectural practice, Lungfish Architects has successfully partnered with Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver more than £30m-worth of educational infrastructure in Derby, helping to generate 1,440 additional school places. Lungfish has designed and delivered some of Derby City Council and Derby County Council’s most recent transformative school projects including Hackwood Primary Academy, Castleward Primary School, Highfields Spencer Academy, Ravensdale Infant & Nursery and, most recently, Snelsmoor Grange Primary School which is due to open in September 2023. Procured through SCAPE’s frameworks over the past three years, the completed projects have all been delivered on time, on budget and with an average client satisfaction of score of 9.5/10. The milestone reaffirms Lungfish’s commitment to creating sustainable and purposeful learning environments that support sustainable community regeneration. Working closely with each council, Lungfish undertook an extensive research and development study outlining exemplar school design and developing a standardised kit of parts. This standardised approach could be applied to any school site, whilst delivering the council’s educational requirements. Utilising simplicity and design-led methods, Lungfish Architects has also sought to maximise space. The layout and shape of each school building was carefully designed to suit the day-to-day management, needs, and user flow through the schools to deliver greater efficiency. Each classroom maximises natural day light and encapsulates external views, while unique educational facilities and environments encourages positive and engaging learning environments. For Castleward Primary School, a constrained inner-city site, the addition of a rooftop play area helped the school achieve more outdoor space than the site would have traditionally allowed, while at Ravensdale Infant & Nursery, every classroom had their own outdoor access for play and lessons outside. New trees and a wild meadow were also installed to create biodiverse learning areas. Simon Reid, managing director at Lungfish Architects, said: “The five school projects mark another important milestone for Lungfish and our commitment to pushing the boundaries of educational design. Creating buildings that improve the lives of communities continues to inspire us and we approach every project with the same mantra. “Utilising offsite construction methods has resulted in a reduction of time spent on site, allowing the delivery timescales for each project to be shortened and school places to be opened up sooner. Modular design and construction also drives down the amount of embodied carbon within each school. “Working closely with the delivery team at Morgan Sindall has allowed our design concepts and visions for these schools to become a reality. They are true assets to the local area and will play a vital role in educating generations to come.” Rob Cant, SCAPE Framework Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We first partnered with Lungfish Architects on Hackwood Primary Academy. Not only was this project the largest to be delivered through the SCAPE Venture framework at the time, but it was also the first modular build project we had delivered in the Midlands. Working closely with the Lungfish team we have since gone on to develop an industry leading approach to modular construction that uses the very latest advances and technologies in modern methods of construction. Coupled with our proven ability to deliver traditional builds, we feel we are now perfectly placed to quickly respond to our clients’ needs with a number of solutions.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
