A SCHOOL in Weston-super-Mare has won an award for its newly built expansion.
The expansion of Winterstoke Hundred Academy in Locking Parklands has won at the Michelmores Property Awards and was shortlisted in 2024’s Construction News and Constructing Excellence Awards.
These prestigious awards celebrate innovation and design in the construction industry, recognising Winterstoke Hundred Academy among the best projects completed in the past 12 months.
At the Michelmores Property Awards, Winterstoke Hundred Academy took home the prestigious Building of the Year Award and Education Project of the Year accolade.
The three-storey school building - with its eye-catching, colourful exterior - has been designed to achieve Net Zero carbon in operation and a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for energy efficiency.
The ‘eco-school’ also includes features that keep classrooms warmer in the winter and cooler in summer, making good use of natural light to help cut energy consumption all year round.
The bright, modern classrooms are kitted out with the latest technology.
Solar panels on the roof generate electricity inside the building and send power to the national grid, providing green energy to both the school and the wider community.
Councillor Catherine Gibbons, Executive Member for Children’s Services, Families, and Lifelong Learning said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve delivered with Kier, CLF, and Homes England, so it’s brilliant to see the expansion of Winterstoke Hundred Academy now receiving recognition from industry experts.
“The school building really raises the bar for construction projects in North Somerset, setting a new standard for sustainability, perfect for the future as we all do our bit to achieve Net Zero.
“It also shows what North Somerset Council can achieve when leading projects for its community, delivering schemes that are an investment in more than just bricks and mortar, offering lasting value to residents who can enjoy year on year access to new facilities, as well as opportunities created in their local area.”
Jason Taylor, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: "These awards are a wonderful opportunity not only to recognise and celebrate the project but also the team who were instrumental in delivering it.
“We are thrilled to have picked up awards at this year’s Michelmores Property Awards and are now looking forward to the Constructing Excellence Awards where we are keeping our fingers crossed for further accolades.”
Matthew Randle, Principal at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, said: “We are immensely proud that the new Winterstoke Hundred Academy has been rightly recognised on the national stage.
“It is a remarkable building, which provides an exceptional educational environment for our young people to learn in, while also enabling us to further expand our curriculum to really excel in many specialist areas.
“It has also been designed to exacting environmental standards, meaning our school will continue to positively impact students and the wider community for decades to come.”
The expansion of Winterstoke Hundred Academy was mostly funded through Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.
It also includes a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain, protect and promote plants and wildlife in the local area.
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