Construction method slashes cost of building school
Interserve is using its PodSolve approach for school buildings to achieve substantial cost savings for the Leeds East Academy operated by E-ACT. The original estimate in June 2010 was £19 million. Following programme revisions, the budget was reduced to £14 million — a figure beaten by the PodSolve solution, which comes in at £13.65 million. The building will be delivered in 60 weeks, compared to the 80 weeks of traditional methods.
PodSolve comprises a series of steel-framed rooms of classrooms that can be easily fitted together to create a modern, fully flexible school environment. It has been developed in a partnership between Interserve, Maber architects, Norwood and Arup.
The shape and layout of Leeds East Academy removes the traditional school corridor and regimented classroom approach. This is replaced with the creation of pods which can be moved, added or removed in just five days per pod to cater for changing requirements.
This PodSolve school will be a well sealed and insulated building with solar PV, a CHP plant and lighting control systems.
