Co-op Belle Vue Academy, Manchester

Our project team recently completed an impressive £26.5m project, Co-op Belle Vue Academy, for client, Manchester City Council.

The Co-op Belle Vue Academy project was executed through the Pagabo Framework and marked a significant addition to Sir Robert McAlpine’s extensive portfolio of educational projects, totalling over £500 million in the last 15 years.

The academy, situated on a 12.6-acre brownfield site, features a three-story main school building, a teaching block, an adjoining drama block, and a two-story sports block. Additionally, the campus includes two large playing fields and a multi-use games area (MUGA).

Due to the remarkable progress made by our project team, the anticipated completion date for the project was expedited from September 2023 to the end of October 2022, with classrooms expected to be fully operational in the first half of the 2022/23 academic year.

Sustainability and social value

We proactively planned for carbon savings, both operational and embodied, early in the project. This forward-thinking approach aligns with the growing carbon agenda in the industry, ensuring that carbon reduction is a top priority, irrespective of contractual obligations.

Sir Robert McAlpine has generated almost £32 million for social impact initiatives in Manchester and the North-West region during the development of Co-op Academy Belle Vue.

Download the full report: Co-op Academy Belle Vue Social and Economic Impact Report.

Future expansion

The academy was designed with future growth in mind, implementing expansion zones and build strategies in the initial design phase, allowing for seamless expansion without disrupting school operations.

Efficient logistics

A carefully coordinated design allowed for concurrent demolition and construction activities, reducing the overall project timeline and enhancing efficiency.

Innovation, awards and best practice

We embraced innovative strategies, including a robust fire protection plan with British Gypsum, the implementation of a Digital Twin for quality assurance, a unique slab edge detail for time savings, and a re-evaluation of site accommodation placement for cost and time efficiency.

In addition, the project was named ‘Best Framework Collaboration Project’ at the Pagabo awards last year alongside Faithful+Gould and Manchester City Council.

Temporary Works Design

McAlpine Design Group undertook the temporary works design for the construction of the school engaging with the site team and Works Engineer to deliver the most economical and sustainable solutions. Our in-house team delivered the following elements:

• Early engagement - advised on buildability to minimise the amount of temporary works required by adapting permanent works.
  
  
• Site hoarding – use of locally sourced and site won paving slabs to act as ballast for the site hoarding.
  
  
• Cabin foundations – use of locally sourced paving slabs to support cabin foundations and remove the need for imported concrete.
  
  
• Mobile crane outrigger foundations – extensive engagement with lifting operations to allow use of mobile cranes in and around building footprint to remove the need for Tower Cranes.
  
  
• Metal decking reviews – Construction and buildability advice on expected deflections to remove need for back-propping.
  
  
• Edge protection – used permanent SFS system as temporary edge protection to provide a more sustainable solution.
  
  
• Permanent lighting columns – Review and approval of permanent external lighting columns in later stages of project. A key benefit of MDG given its multidisciplinary capabilities.
  
  

The Design Group input steered temporary works solutions to a more sustainable outcome, by adapting permanent works and utilising locally and readily available materials.

Cut and fill strategy

We utilised a sustainable cut and fill strategy, minimising exposure to low-level contaminated material and significantly reducing environmental and cost implications.