The £20 million refurbishment of Herne Bay High School in Kent is set for completion in 2012 and represents a major development for Provian Construction, one of Kent’s leading main contractors. Forming a major showpiece of this three year development is the newly opened £5 million state of the art community sports arena which has been recognised as the best school sports facility in the county. A joint venture between Canterbury City Council, Herne Bay High School and Kent County Council, this stunning new sports arena allows for the relocation of roller hockey, long mat bowls and many other sport and leisure activities from the Pier Sports Centre on Herne Bay seafront. The sports arena builds upon the school’s excellent existing sports facilities, which include a full size synthetic turf pitch, three floodlit tennis/netball courts, a multi-use games area, climbing walls, two full size football pitches, a summer grass athletics track, a junior football pitch, a 24-station fitness gym and coaching education areas. With sustainable construction in mind the whole project is set to achieve a minimum BREEAM rating of 'very good' and conforms to the 'Considerate Contractors Scheme'. Designed by architects Clague, the new sports arena is one phase of Herne Bay High School’s three year construction programme. As part of the country’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, Provian has been required to draw on its expertise in a number of areas including demolition, new build as well as substantial amounts of remodelling and refurbishment. Another focal point of the school is a major new indoor courtyard, or "heart", which acts as a multi-functional space around which is sited refurbished teaching and IT areas and new dining and cafe facilities. The retained buildings have been refurbished and the whole campus benefits from updated IT facilities providing students, staff and community users with a virtual learning environment. The creation of a new theatre and specialist performing arts facility is currently underway and forms the final phase of the development. ‘It was a great privilege for Provian to be involved in such a landmark project, and is further testament of what can be achieved through a successful partnership between client, designer and contractor’ said Roger Maycock, Managing Director of Provian Construction. This is the third major project carried out by Provian Construction at Herne Bay High School; the first being a £1m Learning Resource Centre and gym extension completed in 2003, followed by the construction of a new single storey Vocational Skills Centre in 2006. Provian’s experience and understanding of the school’s requirements has assisted it in fulfilling its commitment to successfully deliver this latest project. The sports arena is set to make a significant contribution to increasing participation in sport and active recreation in Herne Bay.
