Leeds East Academy

The contract for the new Leeds East Academy has been awarded to Interserve which will use its PodSolve approach to school buildings to achieve substantial cost savings. The Leeds East Academy, operated by E-ACT, will provide an outstanding learning environment for students, staff and the wider community.

PodSolve comprises of a series of steel-framed rooms of classrooms that can be 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 of the school. A PodSolve school will be a insulated building with solar PV, a CHP plant and lighting control systems.

As well as providing pupils in Leeds with a 21^st century education environment, Leeds East Academy will be a resource for the community with a 4 court sports hall, fitness suite, activity studio, theatre and extensive IT facilities that will be available for local residents. The new academy will provide places for 1200 pupils aged 11-16 and 300 pupils over 16. Leeds East Academy is part of a phase of developments of the Leeds Buildings Schools for the Future programme.

Billington Structures provided the structural steel to build a two storey beam and column braced frame with composite metal decked floors. Billington faced many challenges throughout the erection process, not least the compact site conditions and proximity to the existing school boundary. Access to site was limited and the steel had to be erected to full height with no opportunity to go back once it was complete.

Billington overcame the challenges and tight erection schedule, completing the erection in a six week turnaround, which included secondary steelwork. Neither company had worked together before, however both Billington Structures and Interserve teams worked closely to complete the erection successfully and within the time frame. The scheme of works also included the supply and installation of pre-cast concrete staircases as well as the supply of perimeter edge protection.