Our learning environments must deliver value to not just to our institutions, but the people who learn, inspire and thrive within them.
We take great pride in our work to deliver inclusive, vibrant and inspiring projects across all levels of the education sector. Using our knowledge and experience from across the world of education, we create flexible spaces with technology and sustainability at their core.
Educational spaces of the smart kind
Our education work is delivered through public sector frameworks – such as the Department for Education – directly for local authorities or institutions themselves. To make sure we complete this work to the best possible standard, we bring together our low-carbon, construction and fit out expertise to create spaces that work for the people that use them, every day.
Modern methods for efficiency and flexibility
We recognise the need for education environments to be adaptable and cost-effective – that’s why we have developed an innovative approach which uses standardised components. By transferring and replicating proven techniques and processes from our experience on other projects, this model speeds up pre-construction times, saves on delays during the design phase and improves cost and programming. The methodology enables the delivery of compliant and consistently high-quality builds that can easily accommodate design changes to align with client specifications.
South Point Primary School, Rhoose, UK
Post-occupancy data collection, evaluation and continuous performance refinement isn’t a core component of many education sector projects – but South Point Primary School makes a compelling reason why it really should be.
This is a story about a trailblazing local authority in Wales, observing the waste, delay and cost of constantly redesigning space for new education facilities, when it already had a formula that worked.
Reimaging spaces to create inspiring education facilities
With 80% of UK buildings that will exist in 2050 already built, it’s imperative that we bring them up to standard; reimaging existing spaces to train, education and inspire the next generation.
If we are to meet net zero targets, these buildings will form a key part of the future education estate. Our Entopia Building project at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) demonstrates what an ambitious approach to these buildings can achieve.
A first-of-its-kind approach to transform a former 1930s Telephone Exchange at 1 Regent Street, Cambridge, into an ultra-low carbon sustainability hub which CISL will call home as it seeks to accelerate solutions to the sustainability challenges we face around the world.
The project has achieved multiple sustainable building certifications, including BREEAM (Outstanding), the Passivhaus ‘Enerphit’ standard, the first of its kind, Well (Gold) certification, alongside ‘circular economy’ principles to minimise the volume and impact of natural and man-made resources used in the building.
ÌÇÐÄÔ´´vlog’s Two Rivers Primary School project in Keynsham has officially achieved Passivhaus Plus environmental certification, the first of its kind for the Department for Education (DfE) and ÌÇÐÄÔ´´vlog.
A legacy of value
Our projects have the power to transform. Transform spaces, places, landscapes and communities. We are ambitious in our approach to legacy, working with the community and our partners to shape a social value plan for each project that ensures our projects continue to deliver, well after pupils have moved in.
Our T Levels delivery is just one example of how we go above and beyond in our approach to social value within the education sector. T Levels are a vital way to connect with young people in the communities where we operate. They give the students the real-life experience that is invaluable for their academic learning.
Heath Primary School, Chesterfield, UK
Heath Primary School, which won a Department for Education (DfE) Social Value Award for the work the team had done with the local community, welcomed T Levels student, Aman Sandhu, from Derby College to site to assist with the refurbishment of the school maze.
Completed in time for the 2023/24 academic year, our Moorlands Junior School project, procured through the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) framework for Manchester City Council, facilitated much-needed additional school places in the area, including an expanded Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. Modern spaces have been complemented with sustainable features to future-proof the building.
The project was commended for the delivery of exceptional social value, which included extensive engagement with school staff and pupils, including project design competitions, delivery of an outdoor learning canopy, and sustainability advice for the school’s sustainable drainage system.