Modern Teaching Facilities and Enhanced Sports Provision

Commissioned jointly by the Department for Education and Bouygues, this £10–15m project transformed Kingsmead Academy through the demolition and replacement of the main school block and the construction of a new activity studio extension to the existing sports hall. The redevelopment, which commenced in October 2020, provides modern, efficient education spaces while maintaining safe operation of the live school environment.

Craddys were appointed from ITT stage and delivered full civil and structural engineering services across all RIBA stages. Working collaboratively with the contractor and design team, Craddys helped refine the baseline DfE scheme, coordinating additional ground investigations and CCTV drainage surveys to reduce design risk and optimise the construction strategy.

Key engineering challenges included phased buried drainage works to maintain continuity of services during demolition, assessment of overland flow routes and surface water flooding, and the design of piled foundations to address soft clays at depth. Craddys also designed precast concrete columns to support programme acceleration and delivered early enabling works packages, including reduced-dig earthworks and a Section 185 sewer diversion.