BAM Construction is building a modern extension to double the size of Wainscott Primary School in Rochester, Kent. The new building will hold 12 classrooms, boosting the school’s capacity to 420 nursery and primary pupils. The timber-framed extension will offer a naturally ventilated, comfortable and well-equipped teaching and learning environment. BAM will also carry out extensive external works – including creating an access road, 50 car park spaces, a new playground and fenced games courts – under the £3.5 million contract. The contractor will work with the school to involve pupils in learning about the construction project as it takes place. Construction director Rod Stiles said: ‘We are delighted to be helping Wainscott Primary School keep up with changing needs of the local population. ‘As well as creating a comfortable, modern school, we are keen to ensure the project benefits the local economy, community and environment. ‘The pupils will benefit from an ecology area as well as other external facilities and classrooms.’ Groundwork began on site in April 2013 to create the access road to service the site. The construction of the main building is due to commence at the end of June. Completion is scheduled for December 2013, with pupils expected to use the new facilities from the following month.
Cllr Mike O’Brien, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “Children at Wainscott Primary School are really going to benefit from this extension with more room to learn and play. “It will go some way in creating extra school places in Medway and will benefit many generations of children to come.” The architect on the project is Kent-based Hazle McCormack Young. BAM has a rich history of building in Kent having won over a third of a billion pounds worth of work there inside the last ten years. It recently handed over the new Strood Academy and the new Bishop of Rochester Academy, and will hand over the new Brompton Academy for Medway Council this summer. Other recent projects in the county include the Bluewater Events Centre; North West Kent College campuses in Gravesend and Dartford; Hilden Grange Primary School in Tonbridge; and Whitefriars Town Centre Development in Canterbury.
BAM is also on site with a multi-phased £25m redevelopment of The Duke of York’s Royal Military School in Dover. ENDS
