Work to Re-build Fire-damaged School Underway
Cassidy + Ashton, has appointed John Turner Construction Group to refurbish and re-develop Leyland St Mary’s Catholic High School which was partially destroyed during an arson attack in September 2013.
The £7.5m project has been designed in such a way to restore lost teaching spaces and enhance the overall school environment, providing classrooms, new science and technology departments, extended dining areas, car parks and outdoor space.
The new buildings, covering 3,500 sq m, will provide high-quality new facilities for the benefit of staff and pupils. The existing frontage will be enhanced with a new extension to the dining room together with new main entrance, associated landscaping and car parking. The design has created two secure courtyard areas at the heart of the development allowing both social and teaching outdoor spaces.
Lawrence McBurney, associate at Cassidy + Ashton, said: “It was important that the design for the rebuild resulted in a single cohesive school building, so creating a new extension at the front of the remaining property, remodelling parts of the interior and designing an internal courtyard space were all important elements of the design.”
John Clarke, managing director at John Turner Construction Group, added: “We are absolutely delighted to have been appointed for the redevelopment of Leyland St Mary’s Catholic High School after a very competitive tender process. We look forward to working with Cassidy + Ashton, Liverpool Archdiocese and Lancashire County Council in the construction of high quality teaching and social spaces for staff and pupils.”
Construction work is expected to complete in time for pupils to move in by September 2015.