BOLDON SCHOOL SOUTH TYNESIDE - Wayne Ellison

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24 PROJECT
BOLDON SCHOOL
SOUTH TYNESIDE
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PROJECT
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26 PROJECT
FLAGSHIP £17.5M PFI SCHEME IN
BOLDON REACHES TIMELY
COMPLETION
The project team delivering the flagship
£17.5 million PFI project to replace Boldon
School in South Tyneside is celebrating its
successful completion.
The team for the state-of-the-art
1505-pupil secondary school comprised
Gleeson Building’s north east regional office,
architects at the multidiscipline consultancy for
the built environment Waring and Netts, and
the Newcastle office of White Young Green,
consultants to the built, natural and social
environment. All have significant experience of
delivering high profile PFI schemes.
The new school which is located on New
Road, has been constructed in three blocks:
the three storey Block A comprises teaching
facilities; Block B comprises a 200-place
theatre with fixed seating and back of house
changing; Block C incorporates a 25-metre
indoor swimming pool and sports centre.
Having fostered a pro-active and close
relationship with the School throughout the
construction process, the Gleeson team
ensured that it was kept up-to-date with all
logistical requirements of both construction
and site access.
Bill Law, Director in charge of the project for
Gleeson Building, said
“A major strength of this project has been
the close professional working relationships
with the project team which were established
from the very beginning. We are delighted to
have delivered this landmark project on time,
a major achievement given the financial and
scheduling constraints of the scheme.

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“The project has run very smoothly and
despite the school’s concern regarding access
to their existing building, we managed
accessibility for staff, students and the
community association users next to our site,
throughout the construction period.”
Waring and Netts was the lead designer,
responsible for the architecture and coordination
of the rest of the design team.
Having received a very positive response to
the scheme from the Headmaster and staff,
Richard Howe, lead architect for Waring and
Netts, commented:
“One of the most successful aspects of the
building for me has to be the shared school
and theatre atrium; this makes a very light
and impressive entrance for the school.
“Throughout the whole building we
have maximised circulation space and have
PROJECT
“
The new school which is located on
New Road, has been constructed in three blocks:
the three storey Block A comprises teaching
facilities; Block B comprises a 200-place theatre
with fixed seating and back of house changing;
Block C incorporates a 25-metre indoor
swimming pool and sports centre.
”
created space for informal student
interaction which reflects the School’s open
and friendly atmosphere.
“This has been an extremely rewarding
project where yet again our relationship with
Gleeson Building has proved highly effective.”
White Young and Green drew upon a
number of its core disciplines throughout as it
undertook a wide-ranging role including civil
and structural, mechanical and electrical and
environmental. Trevor Little, Technical Director
of White Young Green Newcastle, said:
“We enjoyed a very good working
relationship with the design and
construction team, having worked with them
on similarly high profile PFI schemes before.
In addition, the support and enthusiasm
for the project from the Headteacher has
been unparalleled.” >28
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28 PROJECT
PROJECT TEAM
Client:
Boldon School
Architects:
Waring and Netts
Contractors:
Gleeson Building
Consultants:
White Young Green
Images:
Sally Ann Norman
“
One of the most successful aspects of the
building for me has to be the shared school and
theatre atrium; this makes a very light and
impressive entrance for the school.
”
RICHARD HOWE > LEAD ARCHITECT > WARING AND NETTS
All three companies started work on the
project in July 2003 following a competitive
tender, which was issued by South Tyneside
Metropolitan Borough Council. Work
commenced on site in March 2005.
Colin Whitfield, Headteacher of Boldon
School, said:
“The new school has been successfully
delivered on time by Gleeson Building which
has brought into reality Waring and Netts’
innovative and exciting design concept. Inside
the space and light in all areas provides a
superb flexible teaching and learning
environment. They have, with White Young
Green, set the building into the local
environment so that it makes a bold
statement about its purpose and yet
complements the surrounding area.
“Everyone is excited about the move into
the new building which will take place in
November. Demolition of the old school
buildings will take place in December.”