Strood Academy, built by BAM, has won the prestigious 2012 Medway Culture and Design Award in the New Build category.

The field included housing and other school schemes, Chatham Bus station and the Bicentenary Bridge.

Judges said the £26m project 'raised the bar in excellence and design' and was commended for being 'wholly innovative in its approach to construction, sustainability and renewable energy, with Medway's first wind turbine in a school'.

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Strood Academy, which specialises in business, enterprise and mathematics, includes a new sixth form and a vocational centre designed to provide a variety of vocational courses to both pupils and the community, called the Inspiration Centre.

The design and build scheme, which involved the architectural expertise of BAM Design, also includes new and improved sports facilities for the Academy,

The new Academy replaces the old Temple Boys Schools and Chapter Girls School. It was completed in September 2012, in time for the new school year, and is now available for community use.

(CD/GK)