Northstowe Education Campus, Cambrideshire

The Northstowe Education Campus is a £45 million, all-through educational development in Cambridgeshire, created through a close collaboration between Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust, Cambridgeshire County Council, Homes England, and the design team at Frank Shaw Architects, with construction led by Kier.

Completed in summer 2020, the campus serves over 2,300 students across a secondary school, sixth-form, primary school, and dedicated SEN facility, forming a central hub within the sustainable new town of Northstowe, a development planned for 10,000 homes and 25,000 residents on the former RAF Oakington site.

Awards & Recognition

• Education Project of the Year, East of England Property Awards 2025
• Structural Timber Awards 2020, Education Project of the Year
• Shortlisted for Civic Building of the Year, Spaces Awards 2021

Project Requirements

The campus required a flooring solution that could:

• Perform in high-traffic teaching, communal, and circulation areas
• Provide acoustic benefits to support concentration and reduce sensory overload for neurodiverse learners
• Deliver long-term durability and low maintenance
• Support inclusive learning through clear, contrasting colourways
• Meet sustainability standards in a large-scale education environment

Supacord Carpet Tile Solution

The campus was designed to provide inclusive, modern learning spaces that support both education and community use, with high-quality interiors that reflect the school’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and well-being. Heckmondwike supplied 4,700 m² of Supacord carpet tiles, installed by Blade Flooring, to meet the high-performance requirements of the campus’ teaching and communal areas. Key benefits included:

• Acoustic Performance: Reduces impact noise by up to 23dB, supporting concentration and minimising sensory overload
• Durability: Suitable for high-traffic areas such as classrooms, corridors, and communal spaces
• Inclusive Design: Wide colour palette enables contrasting tones to support students with mobility challenges, visual impairments, or sensory sensitivities
• Low Maintenance: Easy to clean and maintain, ideal for long-term performance in educational environments
• Sustainability: BREEAM-compliant and aligned with the school’s commitment to environmentally responsible materials

Outcome

The completed campus delivers a modern, inclusive, and functional learning environment. Supacord carpet tiles contributed to:

• Enhancing the acoustic environment, promoting focus and calm
• Creating visually distinct, accessible spaces
• Supporting durability and ease of maintenance across high-use areas
• Aligning with the campus’ sustainability objectives

The project’s success has been widely recognised through multiple awards, highlighting the role of quality specification and installation in achieving both functional and aesthetic excellence in education environments.