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
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
Children in Lichfield are gearing up to start their education in a brand-new school in September. Anna Seward Primary School will be welcoming its first cohort of pupils in the new school year, after undergoing a year-long build process. Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, delivered the construction works through the
Housebuiler Crest Nicholson has sponsored a selection of upgraded outdoor seating at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich. The brightly coloured new benches are made of hard-wearing recycled plastic, replacing the old wooden benches that were in need of an upgrade. Not only will their durable material mean they
The 420-pupil primary school development at Graven Hill has moved a step closer with the steel frame superstructure being signed by a local child at a celebration event this week. A traditional bolt tightening also took place to recognise the significant milestone in the delivery of the primary school. Graven
Winchester’s first primary academy school is due to be delivered by contractor Willmott Dixon, which was awarded the £8.35 million contract by Hampshire County Council. The new Barton Farm Academy is a single storey two-form entry school that features a main hall, holistic music and drama studio, ‘discovery point’ library,
Schoolchildren in Cheshire are enjoying a renewed sense of health and wellbeing, following a ground-breaking project at Alsager School. The £320k development has provided students with space to enjoy the fresh air – whatever the weather. Tasked with overseeing the design, build and installation of a sleek new ETFE canopy
A major transformation project will bring two new buildings to a school in Slough. Wates Construction has commenced work on the site of Langley Grammar for the 63,300 sq ft facilities, which will include space for 200 more students. “We’re pleased to be starting the important task of building these
A £4.4 million contract has been awarded by the Department for Education to Interserve Group to design and build a new teaching block and refurbish the sports hall at Ridgewood High School, in Stourbridge. Part of the Department’s Priority Schools Building Programme, the project will be delivered in partnership alongside Stour
Södra Wood was delighted this month to sponsor the undergraduate architecture students’ timber workshop at The Cass, London Metropolitan University. The construction workshop is an annual event for the School of Architecture, taking place in February each year. Second year architecture students travel offsite to Mudchute Park and Farm, where they
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
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
Children in Lichfield are gearing up to start their education in a brand-new school in September. Anna Seward Primary School will be welcoming its first cohort of pupils in the new school year, after undergoing a year-long build process. Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, delivered the construction works through the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) Framework, alongside Staffordshire County Council, design and project managers Entrust and architects Arc Partnership. The £7m two-storey school will initially welcome nursery and reception pupils before filling up year on year to accommodate 210 school pupils and 26 nursery places. The school, which has been built in response to increased demand for places in the local area, boasts state-of-the-art classrooms, a library, large hall, dedicated design and technology room and a full production kitchen to provide healthy meals for pupils and staff. The accommodation makes good use of natural light, ventilation, and technology to provide modern energy-efficient spaces, as well as modern outdoor formal and informal play spaces. Anna Seward Primary School will be part of the highly successful Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), which runs six other facilities in Lichfield. An official ceremony to celebrate its opening is planned to take place in September 2023, once staff and pupils have started the new term. G F Tomlinson provided £212,976.00 of social value added opportunities for the local community, including organised site visits and career talks with students from nearby schools and recycled 98 per cent of its construction waste generated on site which was diverted from landfill – contributing positively to the local environment and the national carbon net-zero agenda. Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Anna Seward Primary has been built in response to local housing developments, which have increased demand for school places in the Lichfield area. It has been great to see the school constructed over the past few months and, although the school summer holidays are currently in full swing, I’m sure many parents and pupils will be looking forward to starting their education in a brand-new school come September.” Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are proud to have completed another project for Staffordshire County Council and continue our excellent working relationship, playing our part in expanding primary school provision in the local community. “Seeing Anna Seward Primary School take shape over the last few months has been truly rewarding – knowing that the school will provide an exceptional learning environment for many local children.” Richard Gill CBE, the ATLP CEO, said: “It’s hugely exciting to see many months of planning and hard work come to fruition at Anna Seward Primary, where we have assembled a first-class teaching team. “The ATLP has built a highly respected reputation for delivering excellence in education to primary and secondary school pupils in Lichfield and beyond. Parents of Anna Seward pupils can expect such high standards.” This is the sixth school G F Tomlinson has delivered for Staffordshire County Council to date, these include the most recent Bramshall Meadows First School in Uttoxeter and Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield last Summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuiler Crest Nicholson has sponsored a selection of upgraded outdoor seating at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich. The brightly coloured new benches are made of hard-wearing recycled plastic, replacing the old wooden benches that were in need of an upgrade. Not only will their durable material mean they will stand the test of time and will be well suited for the British weather, but they will be a perfect addition for children to use during the school day and for the range of events held at the school, including ice cream sales, cake sales, summer fayres, sports days and more. “We’re thrilled with the generous donation from Crest Nicholson, which arrived in time for many of our outdoor school activities and events this year and has been used by students and their families alike. Since the start of the academic year, the children have loved using them for lunchtime, eating snacks outside, socialising, and making friends. Crest Nicholson have been instrumental in our fundraising plans to install benches for our students,” said Kerry Marsh, from St Pancras Catholic Primary School PTA group. To support the surrounding community, the benches sponsored by Crest Nicholson were sourced from a local supplier, Realise Futures Disability and Support Service, in Ipswich, making the contribution a real community effort. “At Crest Nicholson, we’re not only committed to building homes but supporting the wider community and so we were really pleased to be able to support the St Pancras Catholic Primary School with upgrading their outdoor seating areas and are delighted to hear these have already been enjoyed by students and their families,” commented Karen Coulson, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Eastern. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The 420-pupil primary school development at Graven Hill has moved a step closer with the steel frame superstructure being signed by a local child at a celebration event this week. A traditional bolt tightening also took place to recognise the significant milestone in the delivery of the primary school. Graven Hill Village Development Company and Kier welcomed councillors and officers from Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County councils, Warriner Academy Trust and local child Jackson-Jordan Daly to the event where the winning pre-school poster design for the hoardings around the three-hectare site was unveiled. Grant Gibson, construction director of Graven Hill Village Development Company, said: “The event was a great way to mark the fantastic progress being made as the new Graven Hill Primary School takes shape. It was also great to see Jackson-Jordan, who will one day have the opportunity to learn at the school, visit during its construction. “I’d like to thank all of those involved for their hard work to ensure we could deliver this project despite the huge challenges the UK construction industry is facing. The school will be run by the flagship Warriner Academy Trust, on behalf of the County Council, and will be a key part of our growing community at Graven Hill.” Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “I am delighted that the Graven Hill Primary School is now under construction. It has been a long wait for the growing community here so I am glad that residents, including those who will benefit from the school in future, were present for this ceremony. Thank you to the teams from Graven Hill, Kier, Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils who are making this happen. “A primary school helps to create a sense of place and of belonging. Within its walls, hundreds of children will learn and grow as members of the Graven Hill community. At its gates, hundreds of parents will gather and connect. It is exciting to see this important step in delivering the community facilities that will make Graven Hill an even better place to live.” Kier will complete the development in August 2023, with the two-form entry school set to be handed over to the Warriner Academy Trust in autumn 2023. It will comprise 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 site also enables the school to expand to three-forms of entry in future. This sustainable development is targeting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, recognising this independent best practice assessment which evaluates energy and water use, health and wellbeing, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. The building has been designed with enhanced thermal values and high performance materials to the principles of Net Zero Carbon. 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, energy and water the school will use, the design also maximises natural ventilation in order to deliver a healthy place to learn. Kier regional director for Kier Construction Andy Bolas, added: “With infrastructure now complete and the team now working on the superstructure, we were able to mark the steel work progress at today’s milestone event. As well as welcoming local children and families to the site today, we are working hard to involve and inspire local students during the build by offering providing career guidance, work experience, site visits and supporting apprentices with training and development” The 300 metres of hoardings along Graven Hill Road and Hull Lane will be decorated by the winning design from the Graven Hill Primary School Picture Competition. 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. It is set in open, green spaces including woodland, allotments and a network of cycle and footpaths. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winchester’s first primary academy school is due to be delivered by contractor Willmott Dixon, which was awarded the £8.35 million contract by Hampshire County Council. The new Barton Farm Academy is a single storey two-form entry school that features a main hall, holistic music and drama studio, ‘discovery point’ library, staff room and workspace, administration offices and parent waiting rooms. As a response to the 2,000 new homes that are being built on the Barton Farm site, the Council has decided appoint a contractor and build further school places too. The school will target a BREEAM Excellent energy efficiency rating to provide a sustainable learning environment when it opens in September 2020. “The University is an outstanding provider of teacher education and has a strong track record of raising aspiration among young people. Pupils at the school will benefit from our values-driven ethos, extensive regional school partnerships, our evidence-based learning and teaching, our powerful links with local business and community organisations, and our passionate commitment to social justice and sustainability. The innovative Academy buildings, including state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor learning environments, will also meet our very high standards for sustainability,” said Professor Joy Carter CBE, DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University and Chair of the University of Winchester Academy Trust, which will run the school. This project win adds to Willmott Dixon’s recent contract to build the new Winchester Sport and Leisure Park to replace the River Park Leisure Centre. “Willmott Dixon is delighted to be involved in this project. The new school will provide much-needed inspirational learning spaces. We are always delighted to play a part in supporting the learning of the next generation. As will all our projects we aim to leave a positive legacy in the local community and are targeting 140 apprenticeship weeks on the project,” added Richard Poulter, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the Central South. Barton Farm Academy has been designed by Hampshire County Council’s in-house team of architects and landscape designers and meets the highest standards for environmental sustainability and will provide inspiring and creative learning spaces for children to flourish. The new school forms part of the County Council investment in new school places across Hampshire.
Schoolchildren in Cheshire are enjoying a renewed sense of health and wellbeing, following a ground-breaking project at Alsager School. The £320k development has provided students with space to enjoy the fresh air – whatever the weather. Tasked with overseeing the design, build and installation of a sleek new ETFE canopy to enclose what was previously an open courtyard, Access North Build has made waves within the education sector with its industry-first solution. Yorkshire-headquartered Access North Build designed, developed and installed a pioneering solution, a lightweight steel space frame – the first of its kind supporting an ETFE membrane in the UK – erected to span the quad, thus enclosing the area beneath. Alsager School site manager, Matt Harris, explained: “Fresh air plays a pivotal part in the wellbeing and health of people of all ages. Creating a space which allows students to ‘go outside’ while providing protection from the elements – including rain and solar shielding – is key to supporting their development.” Engineered to carry more weight over a greater area – in order to provide plenty of natural light and promote student wellbeing – the greatest challenge was the location and layout of the outdoor space, which was enclosed by existing buildings on all sides. As a result, the superstructure – which is over 400 square feet in size – had to be assembled in the school car park before being carefully manoeuvred over the establishment and precisely into position on the pre-installed locating bolts. Access North Group managing director, Berenice Northcott added: “This type of ETFE enclosure provides an extremely beneficial space for organisations within the education sector where student wellbeing is crucial. Additionally, the new ETFE canopy has a design life of 70 years providing it is regularly maintained, but if the time comes when it is no longer required, the ETFE membrane and steel space frame are recyclable, extending the environmental-friendliness of the build with the circular economy in mind. “We relished the challenges of this particular project. Craning a huge space frame over a school and courtyard – which was bordered on all sides – without damaging buildings or people, was a testament to the planning, organisation and attention to detail of the team. The new roof has transformed a previously under-utilised area into a light and airy multifunctional space, resulting in a positive impact on staff and pupils.”
A major transformation project will bring two new buildings to a school in Slough. Wates Construction has commenced work on the site of Langley Grammar for the 63,300 sq ft facilities, which will include space for 200 more students. “We’re pleased to be starting the important task of building these long-awaited, new facilities for Langley Grammar School. At Wates, we understand how learning environments have a direct impact upon the development of young people and attainment levels and we bring our appreciation to every stage of the process. We will be drawing on our vast experience as a trusted contractor for the education sector here in Slough to ensure the quality delivery of this new school building,” said Alec Jackman, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Southern Home Counties. Delivered across three phases, the project includes the construction of a three-storey teaching block and provision of temporary accommodation for the school’s dining facility, library and administration offices. Once the new building is completed, the original one will be demolished. The third phase will then commence with the construction of a two-storey front-of-house building, providing the school with administration offices, dining room, hall, library, a small number of classrooms and a dance studio. The scheme is being delivered on behalf of the DfE as part of the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP2) to rebuild or refurbish school buildings across the country. “It is fantastic to see work starting on our new buildings, which have been so long in the planning. The project will deliver first class facilities for our students for many years to come. This is the biggest construction project in the school’s history and will transform the site into an attractive campus environment. We have developed a strong and positive relationship with Wates during the design stage and look forward to that continuing as the new buildings take shape,” added John Constable, Headteacher at Langley Grammar School. The new facilities are expected to be complete by July 2021.
A £4.4 million contract has been awarded by the Department for Education to Interserve Group to design and build a new teaching block and refurbish the sports hall at Ridgewood High School, in Stourbridge. Part of the Department’s Priority Schools Building Programme, the project will be delivered in partnership alongside Stour Vale Multi-Academy Trust and the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley and construction is due to start in April 2019. “The award of this contract reflects Interserve’s expertise in delivering first-rate education projects across the UK and adds to our strategic portfolio of school work in the West Midlands. We are delighted to once again work with the Department for Education and look forward to delivering this important project, which will bring significant benefits to the community,” commented Simon Butler, Divisional Director at Interserve Construction. As part of the contract, Interserve Construction will build a new teaching block, due for completion in December 2019. The old block will be demolished alongside two old Portakabin-style classrooms. In addition, Interserve will refurbish the existing sports hall and changing rooms block, with completion expected in October 2019. The changing areas will be remodelled to provide better access to staff changing areas and level access shower rooms. Following demolition of the old block, small lobby extensions will be created to improve circulation and toilet accommodation. “This is fantastic news for our students and staff. We can now look forward to a significant rebuilding, refurbishment and modernisation of our buildings and facilities. The proposed developments will contribute to improving educational achievement and renew the pride in our school for the benefit of students, staff and the community generally,” said Ridgewood High School Head Teacher, Rae Cope. Other school and education projects delivered by Interserve Construction in the West Midlands include Moorgate Primary School, Tamworth; Wood End Primary School, Wolverhampton; Turves Green Boys School, Birmingham and a new teaching block at RSA Academy for Sandwell Futures.
Södra Wood was delighted this month to sponsor the undergraduate architecture students’ timber workshop at The Cass, London Metropolitan University. The construction workshop is an annual event for the School of Architecture, taking place in February each year. Second year architecture students travel offsite to Mudchute Park and Farm, where they get to learn more about working with natural construction materials. Last year the workshop was awarded a prestigious ‘Excellence in Structural Engineering Education’ Award. This year’s timber materials were donated by Södra Wood. Jeremy English, Sales Director at Södra Wood, commented: “We’re really pleased to be able to help with this workshop. Timber is something we are passionate about – it is fast becoming the construction material of choice, enabling quick, versatile, efficient and sustainable construction. It’s brilliant to see the future generation of architects working with wood and getting first-hand experience of the many benefits that it has to offer the construction environment.” George Fereday, Senior Lecturer at The Cass, London Metropolitan University, said: “Thank you to Södra Wood for sponsoring our workshop this year, it is something the students really enjoy every year. It is a great way for the students to learn how to work with the materials and gain valuable skills needed for their future careers, and it also allows them to fully immerse themselves in working with natural materials. We are pleased to know that our materials this year have come from a really sustainable timber source.” For further information about Södra Wood please visit www.sodra.uk
