A £24 million construction project by Willmott Dixon to
build Kettering Buccleuch Academy in Kettering, Northamptonshire,
is now underway.
Kettering Buccleuch Academy is sponsored by the United Learning
Trust, the largest single sponsor of academies in the country. The
green light for construction comes soon after Willmott Dixon
received the go-ahead to build Kettering Science Academy, due for
completion July 2012. With the Malcolm Arnold Academy also planned
for the future, this hat trick of Academies - worth £54
million in total - underlines Willmott Dixon's expertise and
knowledge within this sector.
Pre-construction archaeological works on the Weekley Glebe site
have now finished with full construction works commenced. The
reconfiguring of whole scheme includes the construction of the main
school building, refurbishment of the existing sports hall and
conversion of the existing English block to a sports pavilion. Hard
and soft landscaping including car parks and all-weather pitches
will be built after the other school buildings on the site have
been demolished.
Operations Director Ed Reynolds said: "Willmott Dixon has proven
experience in the construction of award-winning educational
facilities across the country which is already being demonstrated
here in Kettering, with the construction of the nearby Kettering
Science Academy.
"Kettering Buccleuch Academy will strengthen the region's
offering of first-class teaching facilities to make it a true
centre of education. The state-of-the-art learning hub for 1770
pupils ranging in age from four to 19 will consist of a central
heart comprising the main performance spaces - theatre, drama
studios, primary hall and studio, with open plan art studios above.
A generous triple-height atrium wraps around this heart providing
access to the secondary school's three teaching wings while a
ribbon of paired primary classrooms wraps around a more private
enclosed courtyard."
Kettering Buccleuch Academy is one example of how Willmott Dixon
works collaboratively with local councils to ensure the best
customer experience from start to finish - and even beyond with
their industry-leading commitment to post handover customer
care.
Chris Borderick, academies and special projects manager in
Northamptonshire County Council's Strategic Planning team
commented: "It was very clear that the Willmott Dixon team
understood our requirements and educational vision. The firm
operates in a true spirit of partnership - any obstacles that we
have encountered have been addressed openly by the whole project
team which exemplifies 'team work'."
The new Academy completion is expected by Christmas 2012 with
external areas finished in August 2013.