BAM will be constructing a new 750-pupil secondary school featuring strong sustainability credentials and design supporting diverse learning needs at the Orchards Academy in Swanley, Kent (England). The £32.8-million project will deliver a 100% newbuild school replacement on a live school site.
The scope of work includes new classroom facilities, indoor sports provisions and the addition of new external soft sports pitches. Upon completion, the building will provide enhanced learning environments for children, with improved thermal efficiency and ample natural daylighting. The design emphasizes well-proportioned spaces, faculty adjacencies and integrated furniture and equipment to support diverse learning needs.
The school will be designed to achieve net-zero carbon building in operation. Key sustainability features include 1,400 square meters of PV panels, a green roof to reduce overheating and provide natural habitats and low-carbon concrete in some of the structural elements. The project also prioritizes natural ventilation and use of sustainable urban drainage systems.
In addition to BAM, the project team will include Bond Bryan Architects, the Department of Education, Sevenoaks District Council and The Kemnal Academies Trust. The new building will consist of two distinct blocks: a teaching block and a sports hall block. The construction will integrate modular construction techniques, ensuring minimal disruption to the live school environment.
The project is scheduled for completion in third quarter 2026.
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