Commercial Property News

BDP and HLM Architects have scooped the architectural lead for Sheffield City Council's massive, £320m school buildings programme. HLM and BDP are part of the Paradigm consortium led by Taylor Woodrow, which has been provisionally appointed as the council's partner to create excellent learning environments that match the expectations of the 21st Century.

Sheffield is a Pathfinder in the Government's national Building Schools for the Future programme, which is the single biggest capital investment into schools infrastructure the country has ever seen. The £320m BSF investment, together with the work already completed and in progress through Private Finance Initiative, means that every secondary school in the city will have been rebuilt or radically refurbished by 2015.

For HLM Architects it is a massive achievement. Chris Liddle, chairman of the practice, said: "we consolidated our business plan two years ago, identifying the education sector and the BSF programme as a key target for the practice. Having invested over £250,000 in research and development, we made our first bid for the Sheffield BSF project, and we won!"

BDP architect director David Clarke said "This programme will produce a step change in Sheffield's educational facilities through iconic buildings, the latest technology and facilities designed for use by the whole community. The win is an endorsement of the partners' approach to large public projects and a structured management approach to facilitate working together. It should be noted however that BSF is not just a buildings programme; we are also interested in the partnering ability of Paradigm and are pleased to be working with HLM architects in developing good affordable designs."

HLM and BDP will undertake the £158m first phase of BSF in Sheffield, followed by two further phases of similar value. The schools to be rebuilt include Newfield, Silverdale and Talbot Special Educational Needs School (which will be rebuilt on the same site as Newfield).

Also included in Phase 1 is the refurbishment of High Storrs, two pupil referral units and some redevelopment work at Firth Park. A brand new SEN school will also be built in the north of the city. All Phase 1 schools are expected to be completed by 2009.

As a result of the comprehensive programme of school building work in the city, including BSF, two out of three secondary school students will be in new or significantly refurbished buildings by 2009 (16,664 students out of projected secondary school population of 25,479).

Cllr Harry Harpham, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "I believe passionately in giving young people the opportunity to be inspired about their future and the future of their city. We must make sure they have all the facilities they need, and rebuilding our secondary schools is an excellent opportunity to do this."

"Working with Paradigm gives us a tremendous opportunity to put into practice the vision we've been working towards for a number of years", says Jonathan Crossley-Holland, Executive Director of Children & Young People's Services, Sheffield City Council. "This has been a jointly developed vision with heads, their staff and governors, who have played a key role in the selection of the preferred bidder."

Caroline Buckingham, director of HLM Architects, said: "Design is critical in maximising the learning potential of students. We have worked hard to dissipate the tension between design quality and budgetary constraints, while ensuring the optimum building size is delivered. This is a challenge for any thinking architect and we, working with BDP as our local partner, have overcome it. Our design solutions will transform educational provision in Sheffield."

Sheffield City Council and Paradigm, once formally appointed in the coming weeks, will work together with Partnerships for Schools on their negotiations. PfS is the agency responsible for delivering BSF on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills and have worked alongside Sheffield in achieving this significant milestone.