Kier Construction and Nightingale Associates have won the Oxford Spires Academy bid.

The three-storey secondary school building, housing the Reuben Business Centre, will provide new ICT teaching and breakout spaces, laboratories, sixth form study and social areas, house bases and a 330-seat lecture theatre. The project also includes an extensive refurbishment around the existing school including humanities and English classrooms, art gallery and house bases.

Procured through the Academies Framework, the project is part of a larger ‘batch’ commission, which includes Enfield Heights Academy, London.

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The new scheme cements a growing partnership between Kier and Nightingale, being their third consecutive schools project win in the south of England. They have already completed Castle School in Newbury, which opened last year, and three other projects are now in progress under the West Berkshire Council 'JKD Programme', including the Downs School in Compton, Kennet School in Thatcham and the John O'Gaunt Community Technology College in Hungerford.

Nightingale associate, Tom Groves, who led the bid , said: "Winning the Oxford Spires Academy in a competitive ITT process required significant commitment and skill from the whole team. The client wanted the new building to showcase their business and ICT specialism and create a high quality frontage to their site. Our design is a simple and elegant solution using appropriate external finishes and providing an atrium space animated by ICT breakout facilities and graphics.

"This is the first academy that will be delivered by Nightingale Associates but as part of a batch it offers us the chance to build long-term relationships with both Kier Construction and the client."

(CD/GK)