Case Studies
Using modern methods of construction and offsite manufacturing to deliver schools in record time.
Located in Derby, the single storey one form-entry primary school features a large hall, six spacious classrooms and a 26-place nursery. Internally, the large classrooms feature a modern and bright design throughout, creating positive and engaging learning environments.
Client: Derby City Council
Value: £4.7m
Duration: 37 weeks
With 700 new homes coming to Hackwood Farm Estate, Derby City Council were in urgent need of a new build 14,000 square primary school in time for the new September term.
With time already not on our side, the council also needed the school to be future proofed for expansion without causing any delays.
We opted for a modular solution and worked with a supplier to manufacture 42 expandable units off-site. The expandability of the modules means they can continue to fit the school’s growing numbers.
Once the units had arrived, they went from foundation level to all modules being in place in just seven days. This saved us up to 30% of project time, compared to a traditional build programme - providing us with a finished school in just 37 weeks, ready for occupation at the start of the September term.
✔️ Allowed for the construction to run concurrently with the groundworks
✔️ Expandable units to meet the client's future objectives
✔️ Offsite deliveries minimised disruption to the local community already experiencing a high volume of construction traffic from the housing development
The single-storey, 15,510 square foot main building features seven general purpose classrooms, a reception, nursery and a double storey main hall. External facilities include a soft play area, a large playing field, and a MUGA pitch. Students also benefit from a visitors’ garden and allotment area.
Client: Derby County Council
Value: £5.3m
Duration: 9 months
With Highfield’s Farm Housing Estate rapidly underway, and a Section 106 Agreement in place, we delivered a brand new school one week early and under budget.
The challenge at hand was to complete the project on time, in the middle of lockdown, and avoid the significant and additional costs the council would have to spend for pupil transportation and temporary accommodation if it couldn’t be achieved.
We engaged early with all parties to establish the need and plan for an efficient build process. Due to the success of Hackwood Primary School, the council entrusted us to use our offsite capabilities to meet the tight budget and timescales. We also favoured this solution due to the coronavirus-mandated social distancing guidelines that were coming into force. We manufactured 45 prefabricated units offsite safely and efficiently, working closely with the supplier. Production was unaffected by the on-site challenges facing many construction sites around the country at the time. The result was a successful handover of keys which took place one week earlier than planned as well as being under-budget.
✔️ Repeated success from Hackwood scheme
✔️ Cost and programme assurance guaranteed from a very early stage
✔️ Crucial timescales to design and deliver the new school
Utilising SIPs to meet the council’s commitment to achieving zero carbon by 2050.
Located in Aylesbury, works include a new two and three storey 900 place secondary school, with 180 sixth form places and a 32 place Special Educational Needs (SEN) unit to serve the Kingsbrook community. The school’s main hall, sports centre and external sports areas will be available for hire outside of school hours for the benefit of the local community.
Client: Buckinghamshire County Council
Value: £35m
Duration: on site
Sharing our commitment to green, community-centred values, Buckinghamshire Council asked us to build a new low-carbon secondary school to help meet their wider commitment to achieving zero carbon by 2050.
The challenge was to design a low carbon school so that substantial benefits are being delivered for wildlife and the long-term ecofriendly Kingsbrook masterplan.
We opted for a Modern Method of Construction, in particular, Structured Insulated Panels (SIPs) for all areas of external wall build-up. We chose SIPs as the preferred solution to offsite construction for it's long-term energy efficiency. With SIPs, we were able to enhance the building’s thermal performance overtime and improve air tightness - making the building easier to heat and maintain, therefore reducing CO2 emissions.
✔️ Panels are made out of a recycled material that has little impact on the environment
✔️ Off-site production improves the predictability and efficiency as well as minimises the number of transport vehicles, waste and material
✔️ SIPs as a wrap significantly reduces the programme and minimises the installation period—achieving weather-tightness in a shorter space of time
Using the Streif modular system to build a compact and energy efficient school.
Situated within the heart of the new Stoneham Park development, the two-storey building features 11 new classrooms, group working rooms, a library and main hall. There are also outside playing areas, a bike shelter and scooter park for the pupils to use.
Client: Hampshire County Council
Value: £5.6m
Duration: 11 months
Hampshire County Council (HCC) came to us to build their 'schoolhouse model' - a compact and energy efficient school, fit for future expansion.
Stoneham Park Academy would be the pilot project for the ‘schoolhouse’ model. We were therefore tasked with providing a two form entry school for 420 pupils in the local area that was sustainable, and also fit for future expansion.
We worked closely with the council’s design team and opted for the innovative Streif advanced timber panel system as the preferred option for delivery of the complete building superstructure.
The compact design is based on ‘fabric first’ principles, combined with a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system to improve thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) and dramatically reduce energy consumption. Streif was also the preferred option, primarily based on the key benefits of an off-site factory manufactured panelised system that had the potential for replication on future projects.
✔️ The timber panel system is a robust and highly sustainable framed timber construction that is based on low carbon/ energy use
✔️ Offsite production provided quality control and programme benefits as well as reduced the number of operatives on site thereby reducing construction phase health and safety risks and waste on site
✔️ Minimised the risk of coordination errors when working internally
