Mace project wins CIOB Excellence Award
Media
01/07/2009
Mace project, St. Keyna Primary School in Bristol has been awarded the CIOB Constructing Excellence South West award for best project within its value category. Judges cited Mace's collaborative approach to the project as being an essential element in the project's success.
The St. Keyna School was formed following the merger of two existing schools from three separate sites for client Bath and North East Somerset Council and Mace provided project, programme and development management services.
At the heart of its success was the inclusive way in which the school was created. A shadow Board of Governors was drawn from both schools, with input by both head teachers under a single chairman. Monthly meetings meant the progress of the project could be reviewed at a strategic level.
A user group was formed drawn from parents and teachers within both schools that met fortnightly through the design stages to inform the brief and input into evolving designs. The range of people in the group meant that all aspects of the new school could be properly considered, from the technical needs of teachers and demographic needs of the local authority to community needs for sport. Public meetings were also held at key points of the development allowing all stakeholders to air concerns and ask questions of the project team.
The pupils also played an essential role in designing the new school. Through the project artist, they set out how the school should feel with the result being welcoming, safe, bright and airy. Pupils prepared designs of their own, many of which highlighted the assembly hall as the heart of the school. At the formal opening, pupils led the presentation and gave tours of their new school to all guests at the event.
Mace operations director Jeremy Damrel said: "It was impressive to see how well the pupils from the different schools came together, how much they knew about their school and how excited and proud they were of it."
This is the second time in two years that a Mace project has received the award, with Threeways Special School in Bath being awarded the accolade last year.
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