The Ladder and
Walsall Studio School
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Location: Walsall
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Sector: Education
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Division: Regional Building
Designed in collaboration with Race Cottam Architects, The Ladder School is an entirely new build campus; providing alternative provision for young people in the Walsall area who are at the risk of exclusion from mainstream education.
The new two and three storey building offers up to 112 students in Key Stage Four and post 16 education a high-quality performance and a digitally rich industry-led learning environment.
On an adjacent site, Tilbury Douglas has completed the construction of the extended accommodation for Walsall Studio School. The school offers a bespoke curriculum designed to engage students on a four-year professional journey that allows them to thrive in the creative, digital and health industries. The new building will provide dedicated and specialist space to further this work.
The Ladder School is a new three storey facility, offering alternative provision for Key Stage 3, 4 and Post 16 students in the Walsall area who are at the risk of exclusion from mainstream education.
Walsall Studio is located in an existing building further down the steeply sloping site. In addition to refurbishing this building, we have also constructed a new build Sixth Form annex on the higher level terrace and a link bridge to connect it to the upper floor of the existing building.
At a glance...
£4.4m
Project value
April 2022
Completion date
Department for Education
Client
Challenges and solutions
Steeply sloping site
A key challenge on this scheme was the complex ground remediation, earthworks and retaining walls needed to accommodate the 20m drop across the site.
Design development
Early discussions with the Planning Officer identified that the site entrance proposed on the client feasibility study was unacceptable. We therefore modified the design to accommodate this new requirement whilst maintaining school adjacencies and optimising the cut and fill solution.
Careful consideration
With the site being situated in the town centre, and in close proximity to residential properties, the team made special efforts to communicate with the local residents via public consultations, letter drops, notice boards and a dedicated website.
Added value
On this project we have been proud to support the local community, creating a legacy of opportunity for Walsall. Additionally, we were able to offer support in the form of repairs and materials to the value of £3,000 for a local church group whose property had been burgled and vandalised, we were able to get the building up and running asap for the group who provide meals to vulnerable people across Walsall. The site team even set up a foodbank to help recoup some of the food suppliers that were stolen.
Our social value commitments for this project include:
- Value of charitable and donations in kind: £4,000
- Total local supply chain spend: £3,446,642
- Total weeks of early careers support: 250
- Waste diverted from Landfill: 217 tonnes
- Social Value Return on Investment: £2.7m, 23%
Our partners
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Cost Manager: AECOM
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M&E Engineer: Dodd Group
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Architect: Race Cottam
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Structural Engineer: Adept