Strood Academy
Kent
Strood Academy was the first of the three new schools in Medway (Brompton and Victory Academies being the other two) that we designed and built with BAM. It is a Business and Enterprise Academy with 1,500 pupils.
The site slopes southwards away from the busy A2 main road and the building has an E-shaped plan, placing its larger volumes on the north side to buffer the road noise. Three teaching wings extend southwards from the main spine and define open courtyards overlooking the playing fields.
An orderly language of pale, textured brickwork reflects the 'grown-up' aspirations of the academy. Blue-glazed terracotta tiles clad the main hall at the ‘head’ of the building. Elsewhere, daylight and transparency characterise the interior.
Learning spaces
The learning spaces are grouped in clusters in each of the three wings. On each floor, the classrooms are arranged around a tapered atrium, with an open shared workspace at one end. The classrooms have generous dimensions and large internal and external windows, so that the overall transparency within the cluster reinforces its sense of identity and makes orientation easy. It also contributes to orderly behavior.
Parents and the community have been able to tour the academy and their reaction has been overall one of amazement at the outstanding quality of the learning spaces their children now have access to.Richard Hart, Principal of Strood Academy
Construction
The regular character of the façades lent itself to the use of ‘precast’ brickwork: the panels were made by pouring concrete onto the back of horizontally laid bricks. They were craned into position on site and rest on each other to form a self-supporting outer skin tied back to the in situ frame. Using this technique saved time on site and avoided the need for scaffolding.
The project raised the bar in excellence and design and was wholly innovative in its approach to construction, sustainability and renewable energyMedway Culture and Design Awards jury
Our Team
- David Brook
- Ben Crawley
- Clive Gray
- Nicholas Hare
- Carol King
- Juliette Sacher
Project Team
- Client: Medway Council
- Cost Planning: BAM Construction
- Structural Engineer: BAM Structures
- Services Engineer: Hoare Lea
- Landscape Architect: The Landscape Partnership
- Sustainability Consultant: Hoare Lea
- Acoustician: Hoare Lea
- Fire Engineer: Hoare Lea
- FF&E: BAM Design
- Contractor: BAM Construction
- Photography: Alan Williams
Awards
- Winner: Best New Building, Medway Culture and Design Awards
- Finalist: Medway Design and Regeneration Award
- Shortlisted: RIBA South East Award
