John Turner is constructing a single-storey music and technology block at Whitby High School near Cheshire Oaks and is also transforming a 19th century docklands warehouse in Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports

John Turner Construction has secured a £1.9m contract to build a single-storey music and technology block at a school near Ellesmere Port.

As well as the new block, the project at Whitby High School, will also include two new covered walkways will across the courtyard to provide a link to the existing Overpool Building.

The firm, which has bases in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston will start work this month. John Turner is also transforming a 19th century docklands warehouse in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle into a digital business hub.

Located near Cheshire Oaks, the co-educational secondary foundation school is undergoing phased construction works whilst remaining fully operational and occupied throughout the project.

The Overpool Building was originally constructed in 1959 and operated as Ellesmere Port Grammar School. In 1963 it became a boys’ grammar school with a girls grammar school being built nearby and named the Sycamore Building.

The schools then became Whitby Comprehensive in 1974 followed by a reorganisation in the 80s resulting in The Whitby High School being formed.

Complementing the surrounding structures, the new building will blend in with the school’s existing accommodation and blue colour theme. A metal standing seam to the central clerestory roof will be formed with domed sunpipes providing natural daylight and windcatchers for ventilation.

The buff bricked building will house two classrooms for design and technology, two for food technology and food preparation areas.

Separated by a covered link, the other half of the building will provide three music rooms each with their own practice area plus a practice court made up of six individual rooms. pupil lockers and store rooms make up the departmental areas.