Welcome to this month’s round up, where we reflect on July as we proudly share our commitment to enhancing educational environments and community services across the East Midlands and beyond. At Concertus, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to create spaces that nurture growth, learning, and well-being. Join us as we celebrate recent accomplishments and look forward to new projects that benefit our communities and the future generations within them.

Community Unites to Celebrate the Opening of New School Dance Studio
We are thrilled to have celebrated the official opening of the new dance studio at Harpur Hill Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire.

This state-of-the-art £1.4m development, funded by Derbyshire County Council, includes a vibrant dance studio, new classrooms, a group room, and modern amenities designed to support creative and academic growth.

We are pleased to have worked with Stepnell and Derbyshire County Council to make this project a reality. Together, we have created a high-quality educational environment that empowers children to reach their full potential. Read more about the project here.

Suffolk’s State-of-the-Art Fire Control Room Went Live
A new era in emergency response has begun in Suffolk with the successful completion of the state-of-the-art Fire Control Room for the Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service at Beacon House in Ipswich. This upgrade will enable faster, smarter, and more resilient 999 operations throughout the county.

This new control room is part of a wider hub and will create stronger collaboration with Hertfordshire and Norfolk fire services, as well as offer better support during busy periods.

We are thrilled to have worked with Boot Construction for Suffolk Fire and Rescue to make this project a reality. Together, we’ve invested in the future of public safety in Suffolk. Read more here.

New Net Zero in Operation School in Suffolk
We are thrilled to work with Suffolk County Council on a new primary school and pre-school, which will be located in the Henley Gate neighbourhood in the new Ipswich Garden Suburb. The proposed works will create a new 420-place primary school and a 60-place pre-school and will be Net Zero in operation.

Built to meet the needs of families moving onto the new housing development, the new primary school will include Special Educational Needs provision, a library, a large hall, and comprehensive staff administration areas. It will also include sports pitches and a small multi-use games area.

The school design will be in keeping with the adjacent local centre area. We look forward to sharing the progress of this project with you.

Construction of Spire Lodge Children’s Home Picks up Pace
The team took some impressive drone photos showing the progress of the new £5 million children’s Spire Lodge in Chesterfield.

As construction of the internal and external walls progresses, we are excited to see the building come to life as its footprint is revealed. Spire Lodge will offer tailored support and create a nurturing environment for children and their families.

This initiative aligns with the Derbyshire County Council’s commitment to enhancing services for children with special needs and disabilities (SEND). We look forward to sharing more updates soon. Read more about the project here.

Case Studies

Swallowfield Primary School, Milton Keynes
Our design incorporated a new single-storey teaching block, increasing pupil capacity by 120 places and improving the reception classrooms’ facilities. The design reflects the existing school’s character and prioritises energy efficiency, achieving an EPC A rating with features like PV panels and rooflights for natural ventilation.

This project meets the growing educational demands and reinforces our commitment to high-quality educational facilities. Collaborating with Central Bedfordshire Council and SMD Ltd on this initiative to enhance community education has been a privilege.

Read the full case study here.

Sparkles Nursery School, Suffolk
The new 30-place Early Years provision at Holton Primary School in Halesworth, Suffolk, provided a dedicated space for children aged two and three. Sparkles Nursery enhances the school’s offerings and creates a nurturing environment for young learners.

Designed with timber cladding, brickwork, and pitched roof tiles, it perfectly complements the existing Victorian architecture while ensuring modern sustainability features like PV panels and air source heat pumps.

Officially opened by Charlie Mackesy OBE in January 2024, this nursery is a proud addition to the local community, reflecting our commitment to providing quality education alongside Suffolk County Council and Brooks & Wood Ltd.

Read the project case study here.

James Crossland, Associate Building Surveyor – Q&A
James Crossland, one of our Associate Building Surveyors, has been with Concertus since January 2020. During that time, he has worked on exciting projects, changed disciplines from architecture to building surveying, and helped shape our culture and how we work with clients across the East Midlands.

After his recent promotion to an Associate, we sat down with James to talk about his career so far and what he is most looking forward to in his new role. Although his past career includes being a policeman and Royal Marines Commando, James prides himself on being ‘easy to do business with’ and has vast experience across different sectors. You can read our Q&A with James by visiting our website here. You can also find out more about Jamie Crossland’s career by visiting our team page here.

Oliver Langner, Trainee Architectural Assistant – Q&A
As Ollie approaches the end of his degree apprenticeship at London South Bank University, he reflected on his humbling nomination for the SJCC Apprenticeship Awards. Although he didn’t win, Ollie is grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to connect with inspiring individuals in the Suffolk construction industry.

Ollie has learned invaluable lessons throughout his apprenticeship, including the importance of balancing a full-time job with academic commitments and the significance of teamwork in a professional setting. His experiences at Concertus have equipped him with the confidence and skills needed for a successful architectural career. We’re excited to see where his journey takes him next. Read our Q&A with Ollie here.

Concertus support Ipswich Academy with Careers Events
Our Senior Architect, Sean Jeffries, engaged over 100 students at Ipswich Academy during an Activity Day, discussing careers in construction and leading an exciting design challenge for a two-classroom building. The winner showcased outstanding design and teamwork.

Additionally, our BIM Manager Luke Foley and Oliver Langner, Trainee Architectural Assistant, participated in the school’s Festival Day, demonstrating AI goggles that brought building design to life for the children. Thank you to Sean, Luke, and Oliver for inspiring the next generation and brilliantly representing Concertus.

We are currently on site to deliver a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) block at Ipswich Academy. We look forward to sharing updates soon.

Great Engagement at BEST Event at Kesgrave High School
Our team attended the BEST (Business, Enterprise, Skills, and Training) event at Kesgrave High School. Our colleagues conducted an engaging session for sixth form students, exploring the various career pathways available at Vertas Group.

Laura Morris De’ath and Bradley Dedman discussed opportunities in architecture, detailing their job roles and explaining how our teams collaborate to design buildings for the future. They covered options such as work experience, apprenticeships, professional development, and long-term career paths.

Concertus Supports Local Contractor with Work Experience Students
We welcomed 15 work experience students from Morgan Sindall Construction to our Head Office. Kelly Content, Associate for Architecture, and Sean Jeffries, Senior Architect, discussed creating design ideas and concepts. They shared the importance of focusing on details and tailoring their approach to meet varying needs, ensuring that the designs align with client and end-user requirements.

The team discussed various roles within the industry to inspire and engage potential future recruits. The students actively participated in a design activity to finish the session.