Bolder Academy has been handed over thirteen weeks early – a remarkable achievement given the challenges of the past year.
Awarded through the Department for Education’s National Framework, Bolder Academy is a non-denominational, mixed secondary school in the London Borough of Hounslow.
The project involved the construction of a four-storey secondary school with a separate sports hall, incorporating dance and drama studios. We also had to make extensive infrastructure upgrades to the local roads and pedestrian routes; additionally we created new external grassed pitches – all finished to Sports England standards, a MUGA pitch, staff car parking, cycle storage, external classroom, courtyard open space and general circulation spaces.
The school was built using our Configure system which offers a tried and tested approach to the design and delivery of school projects, utilising BIM libraries, design information, supply chain management, modular options and off-site construction. Our Configure system meets the specification requirements required by the Department for Education alongside offering value for money and assurances in delivery, established through the successful delivery of more than 50 schools with this system.
Specific innovations at Bolder Academy achieved ‘Excellent’ BREEAM ratings. Environmental and sustainability considerations were factored into the design and build programme including an attentuation tank, large swales and water permeable paving to aid in future water run-off. Solar panels and a full BMS have been installed to aid energy efficiency.
Operatives working on the Bolder Academy project were involved in onsite training utilising an onsite Considerate Constructors E-Learning Hub to engage the workforce and provide further education on the schemes aims and principles. This won the project an innovation award from the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
B+K has been a major contractor for the DfE since the launch of the Priority Building Schools for the Future Programme in 2012. See how Bolder Academy was built here: