For Newcastle’s six new schools, design and
construction strategies had to take into account the fact that
existing schools were to be kept operational
throughout
With Focus Education (Bovis) in Newcastle, we provided civil,
structural, mechanical, electrical, fire and traffic engineering
design services for the first phase of six new schools delivered
under the Newcastle Schools PFI programme. Built on existing sites,
the new facilities vary in size from 1,850m2 to the
20,500m2 Heaton Manor School, which is one of the
largest secondary schools in the UK.
Environmental sustainability was a key design driver. Natural
ventilation, intelligent control systems, thermal efficiency, good
daylighting, reuse of materials and attenuated drainage have been
incorporated into the designs. Welcoming main entrances, eye
catching foyers and pleasant environ-mental conditions all help to
create a new generation of schools for teachers and children.
In top form
At the Institution of Civil Engineers North East awards ceremony
held on
4 May 2006, Mott MacDonald received a commendation certificate in
the Robert Stephenson Awards for projects over £2 million. The
award was presented by ICE’s president in recognition of our
imaginative design and construction engineering.
The UK government has now set in motion an initiative, Building
Schools for the Future, aimed at creating world-class, 21st century
schools to inspire learning for decades to come and provide
exceptional assets for the whole community by rebuilding or
renewing every secondary school in England over a 10-15 year
period. Across the UK we are working on various design schemes
under this initiative, as well as advising several local education
authorities on procurement.
Architect: Watkins Gray
Client: Focus Education (Bovis Lend Lease)
With environmental sustainablity a key factor for
the programme, we incorporated natural ventilation, intelligent
control systems, thermal efficiency, good daylighting and reuse of
materials into the designs
