BRADFORD ACADEMY

Sectors : Learning

Client : Bradford Learning Services

DLA Architecture was successful in its bid against 6 other teams as part of the YorBuild Framework to provide a new build integrated nursery and primary extension to create an ‘All through Age’ Academy for Bradford. The Academy is currently at the leading edge of school design and an important project based on a Scandanavian model of delivering education and is one of only a handful in the country.

The transformational design reflects and enhances the Academies ethos and specialism of Citizenship and Enterprise, promoting ‘All Through’ philosophy and embraces natural daylight, modern methods of construction and sustainable technology.

The objectives of the project were multi-fold, but ultimately the goal was to provide Bradford Academy with the highest quality space affordable. It is designed to create a simple legible and cohesive plan form which is symbiotic with the existing academy and establishes a seamless connection physically, educationally and spiritually.

Extensive consultation integrated the aims of all stakeholder groups, as it was important for all voices to be heard. The project team distilled these into a design solution which is imaginative and uplifting as well as, flexible, buildable on time and on budget. A common sense approach to sustainability was adopted to reach a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

It is important reflection on the design and the client team, particularly in the current climate, that ‘cost’ was not substituted for ‘Value’ – the design was “not to be based solely on price”, demonstrating the quality of the design and the bid as a whole.

Awards :

Shortlisted – CIOB Project of the Year 2013
Shortlisted – Yorkshire Property – Best Design 2012