The Redevelopment of Furness Academy
The new Academy building will be a turning point for the provision of education within Barrow. It will provide high quality, state-of-the-art facilities for students, staff and the wider community.
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Education
How will the new Academy building improve education and help Barrow’s young people reach their potential?
The capital investment will provide Barrow with a new state-of-the-art education facility that will:
- Provide new technologies throughout
- Create inspirational learning environments
- Provide an inclusive environment for all abilities
- Offer learning opportunities for the whole community
- Link internal and external teaching areas
- Change lives through learning
Building Position
What considerations were made in deciding the position of the proposed Academy Building?
The proposed building position ensures that there will be minimal disruption to students’ learning during construction.
- The building is positioned on the site to have minimal visual impact for residents of all the surrounding roads.
- The split level building (2 and 3 storey) minimises the impact on the existing environment.
- Set back from the road with landscaped frontage, the new build will establish a sympathetic relationship with Barrow Park.
- Keeping the existing hedgerows and boundary trees will enhance the visual setting of the Academy.
- The open landscape has been retained with external play areas and green space surrounding the new building.
- Less than 4% of the open space will be occupied by the new building.
Community Use
Will there be opportunities for the wider community to benefit from the new facilities?
A community entrance has been included in the design and opportunities will be provided for the wider community to use the new facilities:
- Community entrance for after hours use of the Sports facilities.
- 5 new multi-use-games-areas and new all weather 3G artificial pitch.
- Vocational learning opportunities.
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Facilities
What facilities will be provided in the new Academy building?
Building the new Academy on a single site means extensive specialist facilities can be provided including:
- Fitness suite and Activity studio
- Drama and Dance studios
- Vocational learning classrooms
- Music and TV/Radio studios
- Newly equipped science rooms and technology workshops
- All-weather 3G sports pitch and multi-usegames-area.
- Facilities dedicated to Specialist Educational Needs
Access
What considerations have been made for vehicle and pedestrian access?
- New primary public access will be provided from Park Drive with vehicle, cycle and pedestrian routes onto the site.
- An alternative pedestrian and cycle route is also provided from Lesh Lane into the safe courtyard area.
- The entrance has been positioned at a safe distance of over 150m from the Park Drive / Bridgegate Avenue junction.
- There is provision to allow safe bus and coach drop off at the community entrance on the Academy Site.
- 120 new parking bays will be created with disabled spaces provided adjacent to the new community entrance.
Environment
What environmental considerations have been made during the development of the design?
The new building and associated external areas will include the following:
- New external learning spaces to support the ecological and habitat studies.
- A trim trail has been designed within the landscape to support fitness activities and active external learning.
- Sustainable drainage has been designed to minimise surface water impact.
- Renewable technology including facilities to provide energy from bio-mass fuels.
- Modern methods of construction will be used to limit carbon emissions.
- High levels of thermal and acoustic insulation will be achieved to enhance the internal learning environment
Work on construction of the new Academy commenced spring 2012 and is scheduled for completion by September 2013.
Please forward any comments on the proposed new Academy to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)