St Nicholas Primary School Beverley | Award-Winning £4.3M Construction

Client:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Sector:

Education, Frameworks

Project Value:
£4.3 million

Duration:
11 months

Project Overview

This project was theconstruction of a new 420 place primary school and nursery in Beverley, to replace an existing split site school nearby. William Birch delivered the scheme following the completion of the groundworks and erection of the new steel frame for the school. Through the YORbuild framework William Birch were awarded the completion of the works.

‘Beverley St Nicholas is a warm, welcoming school. The move into a new building has further established an ethos of togetherness and high expectation.’

Ofsted, 2018

Scope of Works

The building is two storey in height and has a contemporary appearance. It incorporates brickwork and SIPS on the external wall elevations. The double height is used to its advantage in the circulation areas where light passes through like an atrium around the staircases and wide spacious corridors (see picture opposite), and also in the hall that is used for PE and assemblies.

Overhangs to the main entrance area provide a cover point around the building perimeter. Windows and doors are predominantly powder coated aluminium with curtain walling sections. There are a number of different play areas for the differing age range of children, from pre-school to the upper years. Shaded areas are provided and various landscaping solutions to creating safe play and sports areas.

Challenges & Our Approach

Maintaining Access and Community Engagement

Although the new school building was not yet operational, the site was at the heart of a busy residential area and closely watched by the local community. During construction, we actively engaged students and staff from the nearby school through hard hat tours, safety workshops, competitions, and even visits from a local author. This approach helped maintain a strong connection with the community and was widely praised for its positive impact.