SPACE Project, Co-op Academy Belle Vue Opens its Doors in Manchester

SPACE Architects are pleased to announce the completion of Co-op Academy Belle Vue. An excellent educational facility with a striking design, the Co-op Academy Belle Vue is a testament to the efforts of Sir Robert McAlpine, the design team, Manchester City Council and the Co-operative Academies Trust.

Paul Broadfoot, Director at SPACE Architects, said: "This stunning DFE-compliant school has been delivered in remarkable timescales due to the superb collective team effort from all involved."

The new three-storey school building is situated on the site of the former Manchester Ecogical Zoo, more recently Showcase Cinema on Hyde Road in Manchester. Designed in line with the government's Dfe Output specification, the new build area, including the Sports facility, is 8610m2. The ninth Co-Op Academy in Greater Manchester, this co-educational school caters for 1,200 pupils and approximately 60 - 70 members of staff.

An ambitious timeline was agreed upon and subsequently met. Planning was submitted within eight weeks of the initial client engagement and made possible by the design team's streamlined process and in-depth understanding of the client specification. Midway through the CEM (Client Engagement Meetings) process, the Coop Academies Trust was introduced, and the design team quickly adapted the design to suit their Teaching style and space requirements. No time was lost in the process, and the construction was completed on schedule and opened to students on January 17th.

"The team at Space have been really impressive in the way that they have taken time to listen to our requirements, reiterate the design, provide credible advice and guidance while all the while ensuring that the project stays on track, on time and within the requirements that the framework demands." -Steve Brice, Executive Headteacher, Co-operative Academies Trust.

With the end user in mind, principles of education and community engagement guided the project at all stages. The building includes a community hub, modern library and dining hall, as well as a state-of-the-art auditorium. In addition, pupils and the local community also benefit from exceptional sporting facilities, including outdoor playing fields designed to Sport England standards and a two-storey sports block with separate access to a 93-space car park, including electric charging points.

Co-op Academy Belle Vue is an excellent educational establishment with not only a stunning design but one that meets the specific teaching pedagogy of Co-op Academies.