Caledonian completes offsite build at Farnborough Academy

Caledonian has completed offsite design and build of the £9m Farnborough Academy in Nottinghamshire. 

The 7,005m² new school, which houses more than 1,000 pupils, was manufactured offsite by Caledonian to meet a 42 week programme, a process that achieved time savings of six months compared to a traditional build.

Caledonian provided a full turnkey package, including offsite manufacture of the 141 modules, on site construction and internal fit-outs.  The project was complete as part of the National Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. 

Offsite design and construction

Farnborough Academy was constructed to extremely high standards and comprises a full height portal frame assembly hall, science labs, music rooms, dining hall and commercial kitchen, plus all above ground elements. The design incorporated CHP and underfloor heating.

Caledonian Modular was appointed as a main contractor to deliver the last of five secondary school projects, this particular scheme was proposed alongside a new build secondary school on a tight and still active school site in Clifton in Nottinghamshire.

Farnborough Academy was on a very demanding time scale and as a consequence Caledonian’s off-site system was identified as the most effective method of meeting the project requirements.

Caledonian worked with all the stakeholders and associated design teams throughout the detailed design period up to the financial close period. Once Financial close was achieved, Caledonian’s in house design team took the original architects intent and turned this into a buildable project that met all the statutory guidelines as well as meeting the financial constraints set by the BSF contract and government guidelines.

The Caledonian offsite construction system, which is available in modular sizes, is totally flexible and is capable of meeting individual building design requirements.

Farnborough Academy

Following completion of the design, Farnborough Academy was manufactured by Caledonian at the same time as the company carried out site works and prepared foundations. Delivery of the building sections and the main structural installations took place during normal school operations. 

The Caledonian Site Management team utilised an advanced scheduling programme that was developed by its in-house team. This allowed the company to schedule construction activities on site so that it avoided any disruption to the school timetable, and whilst the school remained a live learning environment. 

The school building was handed over complete for occupation in time for the pupils to start the new term in their new school.

“The building is quiet and warm to work in, well appointed, nicely finished and easy to maintain,” said Peter Allan, Business Manager, Farnborough Academy.

Farnborough Academy was awarded ‘Education Building of the Year’ by Builder and Engineering magazine.

The building achieves outstanding air permeability results and is highly energy efficient – with an air tightness level of 4.11 m³/m² per hour for a 7,005m² building with large open spaces and assembly hall. The completed building achieves a BREEAM Very Good.