Expansive Space
Effortless Manoeuvrability
Blackpool Gateway Academy is a brand new school catering for children between the ages of 3-11. Its mission is to work together with parents, Governors and the local community to provide high quality care and education through continuous improvement.
Any new school has a blank canvas to design the teaching space to provide the very highest standards for the children, and for this academy, flexible space was vital.
Working with architects, Nightingale Associates, and contractors, Eric Wright Group, Style was specified to sub-divide space, with a total of 10 DORMA Variflex moveable walls being chosen as the most suitable option. This is Style’s 35th installation for Eric Wright Group, with a relationship spanning over 12 years.
Offering a solution that allows multiple use of the classrooms, the 57dB Variflex offered outstanding privacy, enabling concurrent classes to be run either side of the wall without any disturbance.
Yet when opened, the school enjoys an open plan feel and the creation of large rooms and expansive space for activities which require more room or for greater numbers.
“DORMA Variflex was ideal for this new academy school,” said Andy Gibson, Style’s director for the North. “It accommodated a 3.7metre high ceiling, offered the school a variety of finishes and is effortless and fast to manoeuvre in and out of position.
“As well as being a practical solution, which ultimately saves the school money by using space as efficiently as possible, it also acts a real showpiece. Parents visiting this academy will see truly modern surroundings, and some very clever thinking regarding the overall learning environment.”
Scott Stephenson, Eric Wright’s site manager added, “Style has long been a partner of Eric Wright Construction and has once again fulfilled all expectations and requirements. Their workforce and organisation of works is second to none, and meet all the criteria a principal contractor requires with regards to planning, health, safety and quality.”
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