Pick Everard in 38m pound Derby schools project

Building schools for the future is a specialist subject for engineering consultants Pick Everard who have just won a major role in Derby's largest ever schools building project.

Derby schools project Building schools for the future is a specialist subject for engineering consultants Pick Everard who have just won a major role in Derby's largest ever schools building project worth GBP38million.

Pick Everard is working with Norwest Holst Construction and VINCI Investments on this Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project to rebuild five schools.

The firms' combined expertise will be instrumental in delivering the Government's 'Building Schools for The Future' initiative.

As part of a PFI deal between Derby City Council and Derby School Solutions , a consortium formed by VINCI Investments and funds managed by Barclays Private Equity, five schools are being rebuilt.

Pupils at Hardwick, Lakeside and Sinfin Primary Schools, Merrill College and Da Vinci Community College will all benefit from brand new purpose-built facilities catering for modern educational needs.

Working to a tight deadline which fits with school term dates, the project, which is now underway, is scheduled to end in 2007.

PFI funded projects tend to take a long time to come to fruition and this particular project needed a team to commit time, resources and energy during its development which has taken almost three years.

From being appointed preferred bidder in May 2004, the project achieved financial closure on 23 December 2004.

Pick Everard partner Duncan Green said: "We knew the project would take considerable commitment from all the team if we were going to be successful in putting a scheme together that would deliver all five schools for Derby".

"The PFI process in the education sector is a challenge but we are delighted to be part of the VINCI Norwest Holst team that has put resources in place make the project a success".

Pick Everard's role is to provide an integrated team to undertake the civil engineering, structural and building services design for the sites.

Their civil and structural engineers will be working with a team from Norwest Holst's Derby office while their mechanical and engineering consultants will liaise with building services engineers Rosser and Russell from Manchester.

As well as having visual impact, the design of the new buildings will also take into account the safety and comfort of pupils as well as environmental, practical and supervisory issues connected with education in the 21st century.

PFI was introduced by the Government to allow local authorities to use private sector companies to help finance new buildings.

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