The Open Academy was a design and build new building for 750, 11-16 year olds plus a 200 place sixth form. In addition the building facilitated a Specialist Resource Base for up to 16 pupils, specialising in Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The project included the refurbishment of an existing out building for use as a large workshop area referenced as 'Open Road'.

"Open Road" combined education facilities for the Academy with an 'extended schools/third party' training and activities facility for engineering, automotive engineering, motorcycle engineering and environmental engineering.

The Main Building featured the innovative use of Cross Laminated Timber Super Structure, where the Dodd Groups MEP team co-ordinated the MEP Services penetrations associated, throughout the manufacturing period and through construction.

The MEP Services installation associated with the challenging, Oval design shape of the building, was complimented by adopting an "On View" approach, meaning that the majority of MEP services were finished to a high standard due to being exposed to view against the feature Cross Laminated Structure, these included but were not limited to; the extensive Full Sprinkler System, the Lighting and Intelligent Lighting Control System and the main Atrium Feature Lighting.

The building also benefited from a "Learning Based" Rainwater Harvesting system, Solar Array, Biomass Boiler and feeder system, all monitored by the BMS, where students could view live usage and savings from an environmental perspective

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