Thames Park School - Bowmer + Kirkland, Innovare
Project Details
Project - Thames Park School in Grays
Sector - Education
Technology - Hyrbrid
Project Overview:
The £24m Thames Park School is a Secondary Free school for 900 pupils in Essex, delivered through the DfE’s Offsite Framework. Constructed using a hybrid approach of structural insulated panels, roof cassettes and pre-cast concrete floors. However, in collaboration with our offsite Supply Chain we have greatly enhanced the offsite elements of the building by installing pre-glazed windows, roof finishes and external cladding in the factory. In addition, our M+E specialist, DBS, developed the offs.
The DfE Offsite Schools Framework (‘MMC1’) was established to cultivate innovation and modernise the industry by increasing the adoption of MMC (modern methods of construction) offsite/DfMA and in line with the government’s commitment to MMC and its presumption in favour of offsite construction across suitable capital programmes.
In April 2020, B+K began reviewing the school and started design development in August 2020. Planning application was made and decision was granted for the new school in April 2021 on programme. Construction started in June 2021 forming of earthworks and site levels for the new site. Archaeology features were investigated and
discounted during the early site phases. Slabs were completed in October 2021 and frame and watertight complete in February 2022. The project continues with internal fit out and is due to handover in August 2022.
The £24m Thames Park School in Grays, Essex was one of the country’s first schools to be built through the Department for Education’s Modern Methods of Construction
Framework. Thames Park is a secondary free school for 900 pupils aged 11-16, with future potential for a sixth form. The school was built using a hybrid approach of structural insulated panels, roof cassettes, structural steel, and pre-cast concrete floors. However, in collaboration with our offsite contractor, Innovare, we have driven this system further by installing windows, roofing, and external cladding offsite. In addition, our M+E specialist, DBS, has been involved with the development of an offsite volumetric plant room. We know the offsite method of construction reduces time spent on site, is better for the environment and further improves health & safety and quality.
Whilst as a company we have been delivering schools for the DfE using Offsite technology since 2014, Thames Park embraces the considerable research and development we have made over that time, to refine our Configure standardised education product and to increase its pre-manufactured value. This is culminating in the delivery of our very mature ‘Configure Offsite 3.0’ standardised, yet flexible, school solution, which will exceed the very stringent performance requirements of the DfE’s output specification whilst reducing the construction duration by 30%.
The Thames Park project consists of two buildings, a three-storey teaching block and a separate sports block. These are complemented by two multi use game areas, a synthetic turf pitch, turfed sports pitches, running track and s278 highways entrance to the site. The school will open to students for the September 2022 term and will be managed by Osborne Co-Operative Academy Trust.
