Bulwell Academy

The £27m secondary school has been designed to avoid internal corridors, so its eight blocks are linked to a central courtyard by external walkways. These walkways have all been completed with Marley AntiSlip Plus® timber decking boards, with two inserts per board to ensure a slip-resistant surface in all weathers.

Nottingham City Council had specified an open plan design to meet their requirement that pupils should always be visible to teachers. To achieve this, Leeds-based architects Atkins designed the building around an airy central courtyard with separate ‘learning villages’ connected by the walkways.

AntiSlip Plus® inserts were also used on link bridges, which have been installed to overcome the slight gradient of the site, external staircases and decked outdoor teaching areas.

AntiSlip Plus® decking was best able to meet the client’s requirements because tests have shown that even when wet, it provides a safe, slip resistant surface.

The DeckSure® range used for Bulwell Academy is a structural timber deck board manufactured from kiln dried European Redwood, carefully selected to BS 4978:2007 strength class C16. It’s vacuum preservative treated and is unique in carrying a 25 year guarantee against wood rotting fungi and insect attack.