Our work on the Department for Education’s Modern Methods of Construction Framework has been recognised in the Offsite Construction Awards.

We have been shortlisted in two categories for the Thames Park Secondary School project in Essex, which was one of the country’s first schools procured through the MMC Framework.

Best use of Hybrid Technology and Education Project of the Year are the categories in which we are under consideration. Architect Stride Treglown is also shortlisted in the Architect of the Year category for the project.

The school, which will be open to students in September, offers 900 places for 11-16 year-olds. It was built using structural insulated panels, roof cassettes and pre-cast concrete floors. Together with our off-site contractor, Innovare Systems, we have innovated further by installing windows, roofing, and external facades off-site. Bowmer + Kirkland’s own mechanical and electrical company, DBS, has been involved with the development of an off-site plant room.

B+K Framework Director, Chris Arno, said: ““I am extremely proud that our first school to be delivered though the DfE’s Offsite (MMC) Framework is shortlisted for awards. Whilst as a company we have been delivering schools for the DfE using Offsite technology since 2014, Thames Park embraces the considerable research and development we have made over that time, to refine our product and increase its Pre-Manufactured Value.”

Thames Park will be managed by the Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust and will have two buildings, – a three-storey teaching block and a separate sports block. These are complemented by two multi use game areas, an all-weather pitch, turfed sports pitches and a running track.

Bowmer + Kirkland has been a major contractor for the Department for Education since the launch of the Contractor Framework in 2013 and was named DfE Contractor of the Year for the High Value Band of Works on the school building programme in 2019.