THE BOY WHO WON THE CHANCE TO KNOCK DOWN HIS SCHOOL
09.07.10 Company: Miller Construction
Miller Construction (UK) Ltd has made the dreams of a Year 6 pupil at Yarm School come true when he gave the instruction to demolish his school.
Jack Flannery (12) won the opportunity to start the demolition of part of the £9m new build and refurbishment programme at Yarm School, Stockton-on-Tees, which is being carried out by the leading contractor.
Jeremy Barnet, Operations Manager, Miller Construction, explains: “As part of the redevelopment programme at Yarm School, one of the old buildings on the site is to be demolished to make room for a cutting edge performing arts studio and theatre.
“The school held a lottery to find a pupil to start the process. Jack was joined by two runners up, Freya Gitters and Thomas Dearlove. All three pupils enjoyed a lunch with the construction team, before Jack was taken to a specially built podium to give the countdown for the demolition to begin.”
The main contract will see Miller Construction refurbish parts of the existing Friarage building; the conversion of a former dovecote into a new social space and the creation of a two storey performing arts centre. The new centre will include a 750 seat auditorium; separate galleried 120 capacity teaching theatre; dance studio and music performance suite in addition to new departments for English and Modern Languages as well as new changing rooms and a specialist teaching facility for sports studies.
Jeremy continues: “We are delighted to be undertaking this project for Yarm School and it was fantastic today to see all the pupils view the beginning of the process which marks a new era for the school through the addition of wonderful new facilities that will benefit the learners at Yarm for many years to come.”
David Dunn, Headmaster, Yarm School, said: “We are really excited to see our building progect get underway and can’t wait to move into our new facilities.”
The refurbishment of the Friarage building will take place during the summer break and be complete for the schools return in August, whilst the new performing arts centre is scheduled for completion in autumn 2011.
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