Balfour Beatty, through its Mansell brand, has completed a £16.7 million project to build new teaching blocks and community facilities at The Thetford Academy in Norfolk last month.

The eighteen month project involved the construction of a new academy entrance and teaching block, sixth form centre, a gym and changing rooms and kitchen and dining area. In addition some existing buildings were demolished or reconfigured, and new sports pitches and car-parking were created.

The new double height atrium entrance area includes a café and gym and is designed to provide space and access for the wider community. Solar panels, a biomass boiler, water saving features and materials with high recyclable content have been used to provide sustainable buildings with low long-term running costs.

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Considerate working was paramount to construction which took place in a live school environment. Utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Balfour Beatty project team provided teaching staff with a 'fly-through' view of the works before they happened to ensure that disruption to lessons was kept to a minimum and the tight schedule was adhered to.

The completion of The Thetford Academy enhances Balfour Beatty’s regional educational sector experience with the company also having completed a student accommodation block at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton and nearing completion on building new student accommodation for Girton College in Cambridge.

Carl Dent, The Thetford Academy New Build Project Manager, said: "Despite being faced with constraints around timing and access to the existing building, Balfour Beatty’s inclusive approach led to an excellent partnership. This close relationship meant that our new academy has been built with minimal disruption."

Dean Burgess, Balfour Beatty’s Delivery Unit Managing Director for East Anglia, said: "We are delighted to be handing over a building that will provide the academy with an exciting new resource for learning and extracurricular activities"