Building works have commenced on Bedford Borough Council’s £22.5 million Bedford Academy, celebrated by staff, students and the local community in a Sod Turning Ceremony on Tuesday 5th July. Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson, turned the first sod of Earth on the Mile Road site where the state-of-the-art construction will be located, replacing the former John Bunyan Upper School building. Guest of Honour, MP Richard Fuller, delivered a speech on the significance of the new build to the local community and the important opportunities that it will bring to students in the local area.

The new 12,634 m² Academy building, designed by preferred bidder Willmott Dixon, Bond Bryan Architects and the Academy, will feature the latest technology and educational solutions and be ready for occupation in September 2012. Offering the joint specialism of Science and Technology, the academy will focus on scientific excellence and technological advancement. Principal of Bedford Academy, Claire Smith, says: ‘We are extremely pleased by the real community buzz over our exciting New Build and the impressive facilities that it will have to offer! The Academy has been inundated with community input and support and looks forward to welcoming local residents and their children to view the New Build in September 2012’.

Chris Tredget, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon, says, “As someone who lives in Bedford, along with many fellow colleagues at Willmott Dixon, we are proud to have the responsibility to create this wonderful new building for Bedford Academy. As with all our projects, we will look to use local businesses where we can, as we recognise the importance of making sure the ‘local pound’ from these big projects really does have a positive impact on the community. As a locally based company, we are excited to be starting construction work.”

Jeff Stibbons, Director of Bond Bryan Architects, stated, “Today’s ceremony is a significant step towards seeing the inspiring and practical designs for the new Academy become a reality. With a triple height glazed atrium flooding the Academy with natural light, the entire community will appreciate the ‘wow factor’ that the Academy design will deliver; we are proud that the design will soon play a vital role in the education of local people.”

Chief Executive of the Bedford Charity, David Russell, commented, “The Academy opened in its old buildings in September and has made fantastic progress in all areas of school life, including improving the attainment of its pupils. Today marks another crucial milestone as we see the beginning of the construction of the new buildings, which will be wonderful environment for teaching and learning and a real asset for local people. It is a very exciting time for the Academy and the wider community.”

Planning permission has been granted on Bedford Borough Council’s new £22.5 million Bedford Academy following work by preferred bidder Willmott Dixon, Bond Bryan Architects and the Academy to develop an inspiring and practical design for the new building.

Designed with a central communal hub and learning villages forming four individual spokes, the 12,634 m² co-educational Academy will accommodate 1,440 students and feature the twin specialisms of Science and Technology.
One architectural highlight is a triple height glazed atrium at the core of the community hub that will flood the Academy with natural light and deliver the ‘wow factor’ the Academy requested in its brief. The lecture theatre and Sixth Form pod adds to the visually stimulating learning spaces.

Principal Claire Smith says: “The teaching staff and students played a vital role in the design process, such as ensuring prominence is given to our specialisms by housing them in the third storey above the other teaching zones in the hub.”
Bond Bryan Architects director Jeff Stibbons says: “Placing the Academy’s Science and Technology facilities above the central hub will literally act as a beacon for the Academy externally and internally. As it occupies the upper level of the triple height atrium it will be highly visible around the entire Academy. The hub is where all students and staff will meet in various communal places, such as dining, learning resource areas and open access ICT spaces. This will be a stunning contemporary new Academy and will inspire students with its striking design and bright learning spaces.”

Willmott Dixon Managing Director Chris Tredget says: “Our team has been working hard alongside Bond Bryan to develop the design for the planning application, which we are pleased has been approved. We are very enthusiastic about the opportunities the building facilities will provide for staff, students and our wider community.”

Chief Executive of the Bedford Charity, David Russell, commented: “Both the Harpur Trust and Bedford College, as the Academy’s Sponsors, are delighted that planning permission has now been granted. The only remaining challenge is to obtain the Partnerships for Schools approval of the final contract. Once we have that, the build program can commence and students, staff and the local community will see how our plans for the Academy and the new building design will provide a truly inspirational and state of the art school in Bedford. It will be a great place for students to learn and staff to teach and it will be a wonderful resource the whole community can be proud of.”

Construction on the Mile Road site will commence soon with the building ready for occupation in September 2012.
Other appointed consultants include:
• M&E Services / Acoustic / Fire: Fulcrum / Mott Mac Donald
• Landscape Architect: Form
• Educationalist / ICT: WSP Edunova
• Structural Engineer: Dewhurst Macfarlane

Willmott Dixon has been selected as preferred bidder for the £22 million building contract to create a high quality facility for Bedford Academy, which opened in September on the old John Bunyan Upper School site. Parents and members of the local community will be invited to view the new building designs on Thursday 11th November 2010 from 5pm to 6pm and again from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Sponsored by the Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) and Bedford College, the academy will specialise in Science and Technology and provide a free education for pupils of all abilities in the catchment area.

David Russell, chief executive, The Bedford Charity, said,  “We are delighted to be co-sponsoring the academy and working with the College, the local authority and the academy team to provide the best possible educational opportunities for local pupils. Appointing a preferred bidder for the building contract is a significant milestone, and we look forward to continuing to work with Willmott Dixon over the coming months as they develop the plans for the exciting, new academy buildings”

Cllr David Sawyer, portfolio holder for Children’s Services, at Bedford Borough Council said: "I am delighted that the contract for the Bedford Academy has now been awarded. This represents a very significant capital investment in our schools and will provide much improved educational facilities for young people locally.  This successful development marks a key stage in our fight for a similar scale of investment in our other schools, and we are continuing to argue the case for investment in the Borough."

Willmott Dixon will work with Bond Bryan Architects to develop the final stages of the design with a planning application submitted by the end of November. The council aims to sign the final contract for construction by spring 2011.

Chris Tredget, Willmott Dixon’s managing director in the Northern Homes Counties said, “We are delighted to be appointed and I am particularly pleased as a local resident to see Willmott Dixon working on this project designed to encourage the aspirations of local children.

“It’s not just pupils and teachers that will benefit from this; we are committed to using local businesses and services in delivering the project in line with our sustainable development business ethos.”

The design by Bond Bryan Architects will provide flexibility to enable future expansion to meet long-term education demands throughout the building’s lifespan. The pupils’ learning environment will be further enhanced by abundant open spaces, natural light and natural ventilation to help create a stimulating place to learn and reduce its overall carbon footprint.”