These businesses are subsidiaries of Bowmer + Kirkland and form the B+K Group
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Delivered through the Department for Education’s MMC1 Framework, West Coventry Academy is one of the UK’s first pilot schools to achieve net zero carbon in operation. This three-year collaboration between B+K and Innovaré Offsite represents a major step forward in sustainable school construction.
West Coventry Academy is a comprehensive school on a 34-acre site. This project is being delivered on the DfE’s MMC Framework, and includes the complete transformation of the site and facilities including new 3 storey academic building, 2 storey sports centre with swimming pool, outdoor facilities and new parking.
This project included transforming the site and facilities with a new academic building, sports centre, outdoor facilities, and parking, while keeping the school operational during construction. The new school was occupied from Easter 2024, and the old building demolished.
The comprehensive construction management plan minimised disruption to neighbours to deliver a modern, welcoming, and energy-efficient school reflecting the academy’s ethos. Our team also used this as an opportunity to work with the school to use the rebuilding project as a learning tool for students, encouraging students to look at the many different career opportunities in the construction industry.
The sustainable approach included improvements to parking space, optimising the building's orientation to reduce solar gain and overheating, and achieving enhanced insulation, improved airtightness, efficient heating systems with heat pumps, low energy LED lighting, hybrid ventilation, and all-electric catering solutions.
The project reached a PMV of 70% by using the i-FAST panelised system, which included factory-installed insulation, vapour control layers, windows, and brick-slip cladding. The airtight design and high thermal performance of the panels helped the school meet its stringent net zero goals. The structure incorporated hybrid components including roof cassettes and pre-cast concrete floors and stairs, offering both structural efficiency and speed. Offsite volumetric plant rooms were also designed and delivered by Innovaré Offsite in partnership with M&E specialist Derry Building Services, reducing on-site time and improving quality control.
The final outcome was a high-performance, net zero in operation school that delivers excellent acoustic comfort and natural daylight, creating an optimal learning environment for students and staff.
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