THE Dungannon-based McAvoy Group handed over the £20 million Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy in Slough 17 weeks ahead of programme, allowing the school to benefit from earlier occupation.
The project, one of the UK’s largest ever modular schools, demonstrates a number of new innovations which contributed to its early completion and reduced the programme by around six months compared to site-based construction.
Constructed by principal contractor McAvoy, the three-storey, 8,750 square metres building is an exemplar off-site education project which has a design inspired by the world-leading Harvard Business School. The use of a McAvoy off-site solution reduced the build programme to just 53 weeks and helped to address the issue of restricted access to the brownfield site.
Around 65 per cent of the building’s construction was completed at McAvoy’s production centre in Lisburn and the 146 steel-framed modules were installed with doors, windows, ironmongery, internal walls, plumbing, electrics and joinery already in place.
Funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and operated by the Learning Alliance Academy Trust, Lynch Hill is a 1,140-place academy free school campus specialising in science, technology, engineering and maths. In recognition of its success, the project has already been short-listed for five industry awards.
Gillian Coffey, executive head teacher at the Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy, said: “This new academy has been developed to address a severe shortfall in school places in Slough.
"The facilities are terrific and the children are enjoying a fantastic new learning environment and the benefits of cutting edge design. The building works very well to optimise the space, to provide excellent acoustic performance and high levels of natural light, and to future-proof the needs of the children.”
“The speed of off-site construction was the biggest benefit of the approach on this project. To build a school of this scale over two floors and using a state-of-the-art design within a year is amazing. The solution has worked very well for Lynch Hill and we have had such positive feedback from both parents and staff.”
“The McAvoy Group worked extremely hard to deliver the building and we had a very positive relationship with the project team throughout. We would recommend the design and the process to any head or trust looking for a building solution that delivers both speed and this quality of learning environment.”
Phil Clarke, project manager for the Lynch Hill scheme at the Education and Skills Funding Agency said, “The main driver for off-site construction for this project was speed – and to see a building of this scale constructed so quickly was amazing. The McAvoy construction team was fantastic and demonstrated a high level of skill and flexibility.”
“The combination of steel-framed construction and the off-site solution works really well and is seamless. You would never know this was a modular build. This is an outstanding secondary school scheme.”
Lynch Hill demonstrates a number of technical advancements including steel-framed modules that were pre-clad in the factory. Larger 15.6m long units and a new lifting system were specially engineered for the project, reducing time, transport and installation costs, and further improving construction efficiency.
The new school features a full height glazed entrance, a striking timber colonnade, and a palette of materials which includes render and timber-effect cladding to harmonise the building in its semi-rural location.
Internally there are four large multi-functional central spaces to maximise natural light and encourage interaction and collaborative learning. The use of inspirational messages and bold colours throughout reflects the ethos of the academy and the themes of enterprise, aspiration and achievement.
The scheme accommodates a four-court sports hall; science laboratories and technology studios; a business and enterprise exchange to facilitate collaboration with local business; studios for music, drama and art; areas for informal learning; sixth form study and social space; facilities for special educational needs; kitchen and café.
