Contractor Clegg Construction has completed a £13 million expansion project at Carlton le Willows Academy, creating new space and improving learning environments.
The first phase of the development at the school in Gedling, Nottingham, involved building South Block – a new two-storey building providing a state-of-the-art performance space, dining hall, 20 new classrooms, office space, and a new main reception, which has united the previously split site by linking the East and West buildings.
Designed by Welham Architects, South Block was recently highly commended in the regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards.
The second part of the improvements – extensive alterations and refurbishment in various parts of the existing school, including converting the previous dining area and assembly hall into additional teaching space – has now also been completed.
This marks the fourth project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with the academy.
Ross Crowcroft, Pre-Construction Director at Clegg Construction, said: “Clegg Construction has had a long relationship with Carlton le Willows Academy, supporting the school in a number of improvement projects.
“We are delighted to have completed these latest two schemes, which provide additional first-class facilities for those already at the school, as well as allowing the school to expand the number of places it can offer to youngsters in the nearby community.
“As a Nottingham-based company, Clegg Construction takes particular pride in helping to improve the local education infrastructure and delivering facilities that will benefit future generations.”
South Block has created capacity for a further 300 students at Carlton le Willows Academy to meet increasing local demand for school places.
It features a range of smart technology to ensure long-term sustainability, including optimised natural light, low-energy lighting throughout the building, natural ventilation and cooling, and underfloor heating.
In addition to the new extension, the project involved creating a new car park for just under 100 cars, along with infrastructure for electric charging points. A sustainable drainage solution has also been installed as part of the groundworks, which included an attenuation tank aimed at avoiding any extra burden on the existing public sewers caused by rainwater.
Other members of the project team included local businesses: GNA Surveyors, Moran Structural Consultants, and Integrated Energy Building Services (IEBS).
The development was funded by Nottinghamshire County Council.
During the construction and renovation periods, Clegg Construction took part in a careers fair during the summer term to help students at Carlton le Willows Academy understand more about careers in the construction industry.
The company has a long track record of delivering award-winning educational projects across primary and secondary schools, colleges, sixth form facilities, and universities, and has worked with Carlton le Willows since 2005 to create science labs, a resource centre, a music and drama extension, refurbish a library building, and build a Sixth Form centre complete with an ICT room and two teaching rooms.
Education schemes currently being delivered by Clegg Construction include the £9.6 million Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College – set to hand over early next year – as well as the £8.8 million Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange at West Nottinghamshire College, due for completion next summer.
With its headquarters in The Lace Market, Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects.
The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors.
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