Interserve is to redevelop the Charter Academy in Portsmouth on behalf of the academy sponsors, ARK Schools.

The Academy specialises in teaching mathematics and performing arts to pupils up to 18 years and is to be remodelled through an £8 million refurbishment and new build programme of works. The project will see the refurbishment of an existing four-storey teaching block, and the construction of a new linked-build teaching block to accommodate the Academy's Maths, English and Music teaching curriculum, as well as a new dining/commons and drama hall.

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Procured through the National Academies Framework, the scheme will transform a congested and crumbling existing site into an open-plan, accessible and modern campus. Responding to site constraints and considering the positive impact to be made on the community, a new main entrance is to be constructed to create a strong and positive first impression for visitors, and to bind the school to the locality.

Gareth Drake, Interserve's Project Manager on the scheme commented: "This project showcases our strategies for working on a live site, while minimising disruption for clients. Health and safety are paramount on all our projects of course, but especially so when pupils, teachers and visitors are present, as is the case here. We are required to ensure that building work noise levels are minimised so as not to disrupt lessons. Deliveries are being made out of peak teaching times, and all of our practices and schedules accommodate the needs of the day to day running of the school."

(CD)