Atrium links academic centre

Steel construction has played an integral role in the building of St Peter’s Academy in Stoke-on-Trent.

Knitting the project’s four educational wings together, and providing the academy with an open and clear span focal point, is a steel framed atrium.

Working on behalf of main contractor Thomas Vale, Atlasco Constructional Engineers has designed, supplied and erected 70t of steel for this feature element.

Four steel walkways link the school’s first and second floors by spanning the atrium; these steel structures are all hung from the roof rafters.

“To accommodate the walkways we’ve had to erect a series of 1m deep cellular beams,” explained Anthony Gilbert, Atlasco Project Engineer. “Some of these 20m long members are up to 4t in weight.”

Atlasco has also erected a further 74t of structural steelwork to construct the academy’s sports hall. A series of 29m long Westok cellular beams create the necessary open area. These were brought to site in three pieces, spliced together on the ground and then lifted into position as one long rafter.

St Peter’s Academy is scheduled to open in September 2013.