Pick Everard – the independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – is providing full design and engineering services for the 80-acre, Derby Fields development in Macclesfield.  Preliminary works started in August 2018 and completion is due in May 2020, ready for the start of the 2020/21 academic year. 

The new development is the most ambitious project in the school’s 516-year history. It will supplement, and sit adjacent to, the school’s existing Derby Fields campus.

Innovative educational and sporting facilities

The school’s current three sites will be united into a new 16,000 sqm academic building with 350 rooms, plus a new sports centre. This will comprise a six lane,  25m swimming pool; a six-court sports hall and a dedicated indoor cricket centre. Externally, five new rugby  pitches, one rounders field, two AstroTurf hockey pitches and six netball courts will be created.

Pick Everard’s Andrew Brown, the project’s lead architect, said, “These extraordinary new facilities will help underpin the school's already remarkable range of extra-curricular activities”.

Integrating the landscape

Brown adds, “When we first visited the site in 2014, we were amazed by the natural resources surrounding the site for learning, with ancient woodlands, meandering streams and open meadows.  We didn’t want to compete with these beautiful surroundings so we designed simple facades to ensure the Cheshire landscape remains centre stage and accessible for many generations of King’s School pupils.”

An energy efficienct, ethical and sustainable building

Natalie Clemson, associate director said: “As well as including fantastic educational and sporting facilities, the new building will be highly energy efficient and sustainable with a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’. The school was really keen on creating an energy efficient building that would help to reduce its carbon footprint while also improving budgets and saving money on fuel bills – which could be reinvested back into the curriculum. It will also score highly on environmental management, responsible construction, resource efficiency, low energy and water use with a reduced carbon footprint, as well as efficient heating and lighting systems and controls, among other sustainable features.”

Wider community benefits

Funding has come from the sale of its existing two sites in Fence Avenue and Cumberland Street to housing developers, which will provide sustainable and affordable homes in the area along with retirement and assisted living options. 

Clemenson explains, “The selling of the school’s existing sites has freed up valuable land in the town centre for housing, which in turn will address the town’s need for additional housing and provide significant economic growth. We also worked with the school to deliver a series of value engineering workshops, which contributed savings of up £6 million, as well as providing design solutions to maximise teaching space while meeting the client’s budget”.

John Roberts, regional director at Vinci Construction UK Ltd, the project’s lead contractor,
added, “ We are proud to be delivering the new campus, which will provide the very best educational facilities available for the school, its pupils and for the wider community”.