Rubb Buildings Ltd was selected to design, manufacture and construct a 40m wide x 55m long steel and fabric clad Sport Arena for the University of York.

The indoor multi sports facility features an apex height of 13.4m and an internal clear centre height of 11.9m. The Mansard, multi-pitch roof provides an internal volume of playing space at 20,600m3.
The sports building includes a central, premier standard, multi-sports court for recreational and performance level basketball, netball, badminton, futsal and volleyball.

The area can be divided into three sections with vertical partitions, which can each accommodate a basketball or volleyball court or up to four badminton courts. The facility can also be transformed to create a full hall show court for all sports including basketball, which will be supported by drop-down basketball nets and three scoreboards.

The 6.7m high sidewalls and end gables feature 80mm thick steel cladding, and Rubb’s Thermohall® insulated fabric membrane completes the roof of the facility.
Rubb’s brief was to provide a sports structure with a greater internal height clearance than an existing Rubb sports building. This would help the university achieve its aim of hosting more competitive sports events within the facility, with the main emphasis on badminton.

The sports building also includes a storage room for sports equipment. One main glass panel entrance door, six double pedestrian doors and one 4m x 4m roller shutter door provide access and egress to the sports hall. A dividing partition has been constructed between the playing area and the viewing walkway. A high level, gas fired heating system and LED lighting system, both designed to Sport England specifications is installed in the sports facility.

www.rubbuk.com

Work has completed on a £5m building project at a leading co-educational, independent day school in Reading, which will extend its provision to children up to 16 years-old.

 

The school formerly catered for pupils aged three to 13, but as a result of the work, Crosfields School now has a new state-of-the-art senior school building and will have its first cohort of Year 11 pupils to sit their GCSEs in 2023.

 

During the project the main contractor,  Beard,  created a new front entrance, nine new classrooms, a staff area, medical centre, library, flexible performance space and a new café.

 

Having the best possible facilities available to all students is key to Crosfields aim to extend its exceptional education to pupils up to 16.

 

The school also holds charitable status, and is committed to reinvesting funds back into its facilities with recent projects including an artificial turf sports pitch, science labs, cricket pavilion, sports centre and swimming pool.

 

Craig Watson, Headmaster at Crosfields School said:  “Parents and pupils wanted the choice to stay at the school beyond year eight, and   this fantastic new building for our Senior pupils will mean that we can offer our broad and thorough education to many more students for years to come.

“We pride ourselves in offering the best environment for pupils to learn and develop in, and the new facilities will ensure that our students continue to thrive in an outstanding learning space.”

 

Jamie Harwood, director for Beard’s Swindon office, added: “One of the key aspects to this project was the close relationship with the client. Despite some hurdles to overcome, by working together and communicating openly, we delivered these exceptional new facilities in time for the children to start their new term.

“This project fits firmly into the Beard ethos that buildings are spaces for living, working, playing, performing and connecting.

“It’s unquantifiable the impact these new buildings will have, the friendships that will be forged in them, and the education that takes place within them.”

WATES AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION BEGIN WORK ON FIRST NET-ZERO SCHOOLS

Work begins on the first schools in the DfE’s Schools Rebuilding Programme, Lytham St Annes High School, Littleborough Community Primary School and Nursery, and Whitworth Community High School

Wates will use pioneering modern methods of construction to build some of the UK’s first net-zero schools, supporting the country’s ambitious climate goals

 

Wates and the Department for Education (DfE) have today announced that work has begun on building some of the UK’s first net-zero schools.

Lytham St Annes High School, Littleborough Community Primary School and Nursery, and Whitworth Community High School are the first to be built as part of the DfE’s 10-year Schools Rebuilding Programme.

Wates, one of the UK’s leading family-owned construction, residential development, and property services companies, will be building the schools using pioneering modern methods of construction. Procured via the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Framework, they are part of a batch of six schools awarded to Wates Construction in January 2020.

Once work is completed the schools will be net-zero in operation and are among the first schools built by Wates to these standards. The project is being delivered using Wates’ Adapt solution, a component-based school kit which offers a more sustainable method of construction, ensuring less waste and higher finished quality through its emphasis on offsite manufacture.

The ‘fabric first’ approach is optimised to provide very high levels of insulation and air tightness. In doing so, schools are significantly better than the standard Building Regulations and ensures that heating demand and energy consumption is minimised, supplemented by the use of efficient heating plant, LED lighting, and simple controls.

 

 

 

 Project details:

  • Lytham St Annes High School (Lancashire) – delivering a new two-storey main school block and detached sports hall, with work due to be completed in 2023. All new build elements will be net-zero carbon in operation, achieved through a combination of enhanced building fabric, passive ventilation chimneys, mechanical heat recovery systems and on site offsetting of energy use through an extensive biosolar roof system.
  • Littleborough Community Primary School (Greater Manchester) – delivering two-storeys on land within the existing Littleborough campus, including 14 new classrooms, a library, a new sports/assembly hall, Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and a 420-place primary school providing 60 places for each year group along with a 26-place nursery. The sustainable design includes an optimised thermal envelope with increased insulation and triple glazed windows, optimised window sizes to maximise daylighting together with rooflights and lightwells, enhanced ventilation with openable windows to classrooms and solar panels.
  • Whitworth Community High School (Lancashire) – delivering a new 750-place secondary school, comprising of a two and three-storey main teaching block with classrooms, main hall, specialist technology spaces. A minimum of 70 per cent of the building’s PMV (pre-manufactured value) will be constructed using offsite manufacturing techniques, while other sustainable aspects of the build will feature roof-mounted photovoltaics, biosolar green roofs, heat recovery systems, sustainable drainage systems, offsite engineered thermal envelope and electrical car charging points

Gary Campbell-Dykes, Education Director at Wates, said:

“We are delighted to be supporting the Department for Education on this exciting and innovative project, delivering one of the first net-zero schools in the UK. The construction industry has a huge role to play in helping meet the country’s ambitious climate goals, and this marks an important step in our journey towards achieving net-zero. Wates’ mission is to be a force for good, driven by our commitment to become the most sustainable, trusted and progressive business in the sector, and we have now delivered more than £500m worth of school construction through our ‘Adapt’ solution, which offers a more sustainable method of construction, and delivers efficient buildings and services for our customers.”

 

A DfE spokesperson said:

“Tens of thousands of pupils are set to benefit from new, modern, energy-efficient school buildings as 100 schools are confirmed for the first two waves of the Prime Minister’s ten-year School Rebuilding Programme, to level up opportunities for all. The initial rebuilds and refurbishments will create modern education environments, providing new facilities from classrooms and science labs to sports halls and dining rooms”.

More and more education providers are using procurement frameworks for construction and refurbishment projects.

In the nine years since we first launched the schools and community buildings framework, we’ve helped to procure works on everything from the construction of a new £30million secondary school, to the painting and decorating of classrooms.
And interest is still growing – so much so that we’re expanding the scope of the framework to include infrastructure works from this autumn.

Why procure through a framework?
Speaking to our clients, they recognise the value of a framework’s in-built flexibility in procurement routes, and the ability to make a “fast track” appointment of a supplier.
This can lead to significant cost, time and effort savings at the pre-construction phase, and it helps to establish an efficient and fruitful working relationship between client and supplier, meaning more value can be derived throughout the life of the project.
For example, the iconic Degree Apprentice Centre at the University of Warwick in Coventry is the result of such a partnership. Kier weas appointed to the £10 million assignment involving a three-storey build on an old hardcore car park, with an IT teaching lab, meeting rooms, nine teaching rooms, an open-plan breakout area and a ground-floor science lab.
The striking design brings to life the client’s vision, and contains innovative solutions developed through close working between Kier and the client’s design team. Providing a bridge from education to industry employment, the building now accommodates 60 to 90 students in state-of-the-art, technology-enabled seminar rooms and multi-functional teaching rooms.
The project was completed on budget and on time within 18 months of inception, including 54 weeks of onsite construction.
Elsewhere, we partnered The Highland Council with Morrison Construction for the refurbishment of the grade-B listed Inverness High School. Built in 1937, the art deco school was in need of a revamp and modernisation.
Intrusive surveys revealed structural defects, so the scope of the project had to be widened to address these. The relationship between the two partners enabled this to happen seamlessly, leading to time and cost benefits in terms of procurement and programme.
Fourteen classrooms, offices and a brand-new state-of-the-art biomass energy centre were built during the first phase of the project, with works having to be delivered in a live school environment. To ensure they could do so effectively, Morrison laid the foundations for an excellent relationship with the school and the pupils by taking part in sponsored walks, attending career evenings and donating school football strips.
The Highland Council has also recently reused our framework to procure Kier to build the new £15million Ness Castle Primary School in Inverness.

Our new framework
With our current framework Schools and Community Buildings 2 (SCB2) coming to an end this autumn, we’re replacing it with Public Buildings 3 (PB3) – renamed as it has been expanded to deliver infrastructure projects, including student accommodation, with six lots instead of four.
We’ve also split refurbishment from new build in the lower project value bands to help with ease of procurement, and to encourage local, specialist firms to bid to be on our supplier list.
While looking at suppliers for the framework, we’ve done so with the country’s net zero goals in mind, so have assessed their capability for delivering low energy and zero carbon buildings, including any prior BREEAM credentials.
Capability in delivering Special Educational Needs Schools has also been factored in to ensure we have the right skills within the framework for such projects.
More details about the new PB3 framework – including the names of suppliers – will be announced on LHC’s website over the next few weeks. Please do contact us to find out how we might be able to help you find the perfect delivery partner for your project.

www.lhc.gov.uk

When it came to the specification of a replacement rainwater system for a 19th century school building , Brett Martin’s Cascade Cast Iron Style Rainwater System offered authentic detailing, long-term performance and ease of installation without compromising the integrity of the building.

Located in the West Midlands and close to Wolverhampton, the original cast iron rainwater system at Wightwick Hall School was no longer fit for purpose and required replacement as part of remedial works prior to the school’s conversion to an academy. Brett Martin provided the client with full on-site technical support as well as recommending a cost-effective rainwater solution which had the look and feel of cast iron but offered the long-term benefits of plastic.

Due to the building’s age and change of use over the years, there were no technical drawings from which a bill of quantities could be created. To meet the challenge, Brett Martin’s technical team were able to visit the site and help with the specification along with calculations and assistance with installation techniques.

The specification of the Cascade rainwater system comprised 112mm Roundstyle Gutters and 68mm Round Downpipes with Tudor Rose Hoppers, all in Classic Black and providing the authentic detailing and finish they were looking for. This was complemented by the Cascade 110mm Push-Fit Soil System to provide a complete look which was architecturally sympathetic to the 19 th century building and the original detail of the previous cast iron system.

School site manager, Simon Bruce commented “We are very pleased with the replacement gutter and soil systems as the cast iron style is in keeping with the age and design of the school building. And since leaking gutters are now a thing of the past the Cascade will help protect the building for years to come.”

Significantly lighter than cast iron rainwater systems, Cascade is much quicker, easier and safer to install at height, helping to offer the contractor and their client huge savings in terms of on-site installation costs. The system also features external fixing lugs designed to facilitate the use of power tools, further speeding up installation.

Using a reputable manufacturer such as Brett Martin offers far more than the quality and versatility of the product itself – they provide superior technical support, detailed installation instructions and maintenance guidelines to ensure rainwater systems perform exactly as promised.

With this school building now fully protected and ready for its conversion to an academy, Brett Martin’s Cascade Cast Iron Style Rainwater System has met the aesthetic and performance requirements of the client whilst ensuring a fast, efficient and economical installation.

To find out more about Cascade or to watch the Cascade installation video visit http://www.brettmartin.com

The new Winterstoke Hundred Academy Building (Images: Cabot Learning Foundation)

These are the first glimpses of what a new £30 million school for up to 1,200 students in Weston-super-Mare will look like.

Plans have been submitted to North Somerset Council by the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) for an expansion of the Winterstoke Hundred Academy (WHA) at a new site at Locking Parklands.

It is hoped that plans will be approved in August and site preparation works will begin in October this year.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2022 with WHA current year seven students – who will be in year 10 at that time – the first cohort to use the school when it opens in 2023/24.

The current campus on Beaufighter Road will, at that stage, predominately house Post 16 and some Key Stage 4 students (Years 10 and 11).

The new Locking Parklands site will be developed as a space predominately for Key Stage 3 and 4 provision (Years 7 – 11).

Elements of the curriculum at all three key stages will be delivered in both sites and work undertaken to put in place a safe and sustainable travel route for students between the two sites.

The new school site at Locking Parklands will be delivered in two phases, with an initial phase delivering a 900-place school building by 2023/24.

There are also plans for future expansion of the school to accommodate up to 1,200 students.

However the federation said it had no plans to increase pupil admission numbers from its current 150 in each of the years seven to 11 cohorts.

 

Principal of Winterstoke Hundred Academy Ian Garforth said: “The chance to design, build and learn in a new school is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we’ve been delighted to work closely with both the design team and North Somerset Council to create a state-of-the-art building that the community can be proud of for years to come.”

“Our curriculum will specialise in environmental science and climate change and the new building, being delivered by developer Keir on behalf of North Somerset Council, will be an example of best practice in environmental design and energy efficiency.

“North Somerset Council has also committed to making the authority carbon neutral by 2030, so the design and construction of the new building will take that objective into consideration.”

Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation said: “The development of an additional site for Winterstoke Hundred, the fastest growing school in the county, is truly exciting.

“Families in Weston in the future will be served by another strong school in the area, this time including excellent school-based sixth form provision.

“The impact will be felt for years to come.”

 

During the construction period, Keir will host a training pavilion on the site offering apprenticeships and workshops in sustainable building practices.

When the school is complete it will also be open to use by the local community.

 

Source: SomersetLive

 

Plans for a new Peterborough secondary and primary school have been revealed.

The Four Cs Multi Academy Trust plans to welcome Reception children and Year 7 children to the Manor Drive Academies in September 2022.

The Academy will begin with 120 Year 7 students, growing to 900 when at full capacity. Reception pupils will be able to start at the same time in the primary school.

The trust also proposes to open a nursery for 3 and 4 year olds.

A spokesman for the trust said: “Opening a brand new school has given us the opportunity to create an exceptional learning experience. At Manor Drive Primary, children will experience the joy of learning and thrive academically as they progress through our carefully designed curriculum.

“We aim to give children strong reading and numeracy skills and a wealth of knowledge, whilst also encouraging creativity and critical thinking. Our high expectations will ensure that the children try their best every day, with staff ready to offer expert support when children need a little help. It is equally important to us that we help our pupils to develop life-skills. We will show them how to embody our school motto, ‘Work hard. Be kind. Be brave’.”

The spokesman added; “Manor Drive Secondary Academy will create a learning environment that is not only stimulating and celebratory but also, most importantly, one that meets the needs of every young person in our care. There will be the opportunity to pursue a range of extra-curricular activities aimed at encouraging students to develop their interests and explore new ones, and all of this in a brand new, state of the art campus. It will actively seek to involve families and the local community to be part of the Academy’s everyday life.”

As part of the process the trust is now holding a consultation and would like to hear your views.

To take part in the consultation and to find more information about the new schools, please visit: www.four-cs.co.uk. For a printed copy of the consultation questionnaire please call 01733 566990.

There will also be two virtual consultation events for residents to hear more.

Primary Academy Virtual Event 6pm Tuesday 8 June 2021

Secondary Academy Virtual Event 6pm Monday 7 June 2021

If you would like to join one of these events please email consultations@manordrivesecondary.org.uk stating which of these events you would like to join.

 

Source: Peterborough Telegraph

 

Whether it’s a complete new-build, extension or smaller-scale refurbishment project, every investment in school buildings is under pressure to bring the best return possible. Now, some of the more enlightened manufacturers in the construction industry are focusing on producing ‘value engineered’ products specifically for the Education sector – one of which is Kawneer.

Kawneer originated in the United States over 100 years ago. Its aluminium craftsmanship can still be seen in many landmark buildings across the world including New York’s Flat Iron building and the Statue of Liberty, and over the last 50 years in the UK the company has become renowned as a leading supplier of engineered glazing such as curtain walls, windows, commercial entrance doors and framing systems.
Combining those years of experience, expertise and innovation with aluminium’s flexibility and recyclability has made Kawneer’s building systems the solution of choice for many projects, particularly in the Education sector where they’re renowned for their work on construction projects from Duns Primary School in Scotland and the Smythe Library at Tonbridge School in Kent to Imperial College London and the Hauser Forum at Cambridge University.
This enviable track record of success has led to the company creating and introducing new products specifically for Education projects, the latest of which is the Kawneer AA®720 SL casement window.

Designed for learning
The AA®720 SL has been designed to bring the same level of Kawneer quality and the benefits they bring to larger construction projects to smaller and refurbishment schemes, making it an ideal choice for virtually every Education project.
A slimline (hence ‘SL’) aluminium casement window, the AA®720 SL is a high performance open-out design with ultra-slim 62mm sightlines which maximise the glazing vision area and gives a modern aesthetic look, allowing more light into the classroom while providing optimum weather and thermal performance, PAS 24 enhanced security and easy maintenance. Available with two vent style options, it’s a cost-effective and robust solution that meets or exceeds the demands of Education sector projects – as well as helping them stay on-budget.

A range of products for schools
Although only recently introduced, the AA®720 SL is just one of a wide range of matching value-engineered products specifically suited to the Education sector. These include curtain wall and framing systems, sliding patio doors, vertical sliding windows and Louvreshield ventilation, but one of the most popular choices alongside the AA®720 SL is Kawneer’s AA®190 TB all-purpose communal entrance door.
Designed for use in high traffic areas, it offers not only exceptional thermal performance and enhanced security, it’s incredibly robust – its welded corner construction, each corner having four separate weld points with a ‘lifetime guarantee’, makes it the strongest aluminium door construction available.
It also features a finger guard pivot stile as standard, safeguarding against injury to children’s fingers that might be accidentally caught between the hinge stile and frame – and making it ideal for use in schools.

A class act in sustainability
Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly important in construction, and even more so in the Education sector. While the AA®720 SL casement window, like many Kawneer products, carries a BRE Green Guide A rating to help any project meet BREEAM standards as part of an integrated, whole building approach, Kawneer themselves are totally dedicated to sustainability.
The company uses many ways to reduce its environmental footprint, and sets new industry standards for sustainability. For example, their aluminium extrusions have a life expectancy of 50 years – far higher than other construction materials – and use a minimum of 80% recycled aluminium content. Production waste is recycled back to the smelter, and with extrusion, paint and thermal break rolling under one roof, production miles are minimised; and since 2015 they have also reduced power consumption by 24% and gas consumption by 11%, with water usage cut by 80% since 2010 and landfill waste by 75% since 2013.

Adding value in other ways
Value engineering is defined as ‘optimise without compromise’. With Kawneer, it manifests itself not just in their products, but in everything else they provide – which, combined with a thorough understanding of the need to work within tight Education budgets, can prove invaluable on any project.
They offer detailed design support right from the early stage of a project for example, with design advice to ensure their systems meet your technical and cost brief and an Architectural Adviser team on-hand to help to deliver a value-engineered solution without compromising on the quality of the system. If you need a bespoke solution their in-house facades team can provide one that fully meets specific project design criteria such as bespoke fins or brise soleil.
With all Kawneer materials manufactured in the UK, they can guarantee supply and short lead times – and hold fixed prices for the duration of a project – and they have a fully-trained network of installers to maintain the highest possible standards. On large, complex projects they also carry out regular inspections and provide a report detailing any areas that need improvement, while Kawneer products carry a unique range of guarantees from a 30-year paint warranty to the 10-year system warranty.
All of which means with Kawneer, you can always be sure you’re getting the best value possible for your Education project.

New brochure now available
To find out more about Kawneer’s long history and outstanding track record in the Education sector, together with details of all their aluminium glazing products specific to schools, their new brochure will prove invaluable. It’s available by emailing Kawneer at kawneerast@arconic.com or by visiting www.kawneer.co.uk, where it’s available as a downloadable flip-book.

 

 

 

With lockdown restrictions beginning to ease and the education sector reopening across the UK & Ireland, perhaps now is the time to think about improving your school’s sports facilities and by doing so potentially create some new revenue streams? Or perhaps it is the time to future proof the internal space requirements that may become the new norm.  Either way Rocklyn can deliver practical, bespoke and value for money solutions to these requirements.

Rocklyn, a specialist design and build contractor, with strong engineering roots, has been delivering premium sports structures to the education sector for over 20 years. In 2019, Rocklyn was acquired  by one of the UK and Ireland’s largest construction firms, McLaughlin & Harvey. This relationship has given Rocklyn the platform to further develop its business and offer its state-of-the-art all-purpose fabric structures across an even wider range of sectors.
Within the education sector, Rocklyn’s primary offering involves designing and building Fabric Air Domes and Fabric Sports Structures for Tennis Courts, Multi-Use Sports Halls & Outdoor Areas, Football Pitches and Gyms. Rocklyn – which prides itself in exemplary levels of quality and client service – has delivered projects of this nature for Universities, Colleges and Schools across the public and private sector in the UK and Ireland.
Rocklyn’s Air Domes are a cost effective, fast-track alternative to traditional buildings and enable year-round usage of artificial playing surfaces. With a life expectancy exceeding 20 years, they can be designed for an all year-round, or purely seasonal basis. With a wide range of options these lightweight, versatile structures combine speed of assembly / disassembly with the strength, safety, and finish of a permanent building. They may also include optional items such as heaters, insulation, back-up generators and specialised lighting controls.


The futuristic-looking Air Domes can be used for football, tennis, basketball, swimming pools, golf ranges, indoor hockey or even beach volleyball and they have many unique advantages including a patented ‘pressure-frame’ which provides a complete seal at the base of the structure. Other benefits include, efficient internal lighting system, ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, a coloured ‘hitting’ background and excellent acoustics.
Rocklyn’s other product range of framed fabric Sport Structures are also designed to provide protection from the elements, so sports can be played all year round. Rocklyn uses the industry leading Veldeman system and offers bespoke solutions which meet specific customer needs, including lighting, heating, and insulation. Rocklyn sports structures can be erected over new or existing facilities.
One of the key selling points of the sports structures and indoor training facilities are the retractable or removable side walls, which create an open atmosphere during the summer whilst protecting against rain and overheating. The upper walls and translucent roof also provide a great glare-free light quality, which creates a perfectly, naturally lit playing area. Bespoke LED lighting designs can be used to replicate this once night falls. As a result, savings can be made on lighting costs. Furthermore, these sports structures can also be insulated to meet the necessary legislation requirements, thereby allowing for savings on heating costs too.
What about the best of both worlds?  If your school already has all weather facilities or is considering new ones, recent history has taught that you can’t have too much internal space. Adaptable spaces can be designed that have the flexibility to change from sports facilities to exam halls or between assembly halls and vaccination centres.
Rocklyn is passionate about delivering sports structures of the highest quality and believe in its importance for young people. Rocklyn has completed a host of high profile projects within the education sector at prestigious locations such as, Ellesmere College in Shropshire, Sanford Power, Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, and Our Lady’s Grammar School in Newry.

If you would like to explore how Rocklyn can help you deliver your next sports project, contact Ben Stephenson on 07841 802636 or ben.stephenson@rocklyn.co.uk

www.rocklyn.co.uk

 

Engineering and construction experts Fordingbridge continue to utilise their high quality range of steel and glulam canopy and walkway solutions to increase year-round usable space in schools and academies throughout the UK.
Working to enhance both new-build and existing schools with their offering, the design, manufacture and installation team at the firm, continue to provide their expertise to educators, architects and contractors alike, ensuring that outside space is not only weather protected but also aesthetically pleasing.

The company provide:
• Industry leading guarantees as testament to their confidence in their engineering
• Complete in-house design and build service, ensuring any space can be covered
• Wide-span canopy installations, for playgrounds and sport
• Nationwide installations
• Metal, glulaminated timber and tensile canopy designs

 

 

 

With the UK looking to spend more time outdoors, and with the proven additional benefits learning in an outside environment brings, now is the perfect time to consider enhancing your school building project with a canopy.
All Fordingbridge structures are engineered so as to withstand all weather, meaning that they can not only provide shade in the summer, but also wind and rain cover in the colder months. This means that any age, from EYFS to KS4, will benefit from the coverage on offer throughout the year.
If you have been tasked with enhancing an area to provide more weather protection, or you are looking to include a canopy or covered walkway as part of your project, Fordingbridge are here to help. Contact the team today to see what they can bring to your project.

www.fordingbridge.co.uk