Steel signing ceremony celebrates construction milestone at Bedford Academy
Staff and pupils at Bedford Academy have been celebrating a milestone in the construction of their new two-storey building by signing part of the steel frame, before it is put into place. When complete, the new facilities, which will be net zero in operation, will provide 16 classrooms along with changing rooms, and a dining area.
The £12.5m project is now in its eighth week and with the preparatory work complete and foundations in place, contractor Ashe Construction, is now assembling the steel frame. Designed by GSSArchitecture, the building, will operate to high energy efficiency levels.
Pick Everard was appointed through Perfect Circle via the SCAPE Consultancy framework by Bedford Borough Council to project manage the scheme.
Sean Conneely, director of project management at Pick Everard said: “The steel signing ceremony marked a significant milestone in the delivery of Bedford Academy, a sustainable, modern school where students will learn, grow, and flourish.
“It was a pleasure to attend the ceremony and witness the enthusiasm and excitement of students, teachers, Bedford Borough Council, and our dedicated delivery team. With a collective commitment to adding community value, we are pushing through the challenges and making excellent progress on the first phase of construction.”
A landscaped external terrace area will enable some classrooms to be opened for secure access to the outdoors.
Chris Deller, head teacher, said: “This is a wonderful time for our school and wider community, who will all benefit from this fantastic extension to our already very popular school. We have really enjoyed watching the building progress so far and are excited to see the new community building take shape over the next few months.”
Procured through the SCAPE Consultancy framework, Ashe has already handed over an extension to the school’s car park, providing a further 40 parking spaces, with four electric vehicle charging stations and three disabled bays.
The new facilities are due to be completed in August 2025 in time for the new academic year.
