The riverside location of a new secondary school was a big inspiration for the development of its outdoor areas.

Working for BAM Construction Limited, Broxap Street Furniture manufactured a range of furniture, canopies and cycle parking products for the external landscaped areas of Castle Mead Academy in Leicester.

Castle Mead Academy opened in 2019 but operated from a temporary base while the new school building was developed.

The 1,200-place free school was created on a brownfield site once home to the former Kirby and West Dairy.

It is positioned alongside the River Soar and opposite the historic Friars Mill. As a result, architect BAM Design built extensive landscaping into the school’s design to add variety to the student experience.

A total of 22 Bryntirion steel-framed seats and additional matching benches are positioned around the school grounds and sports pitches offering social areas for students and staff.

Their curved Modulock Benches are also featured, adding interest and purpose to the space.

Outdoor dining is available with 15 Springfield Picnic sets supplied to the site plus additional wheelchair accessible units.

The seating was manufactured using FSC-certified timber as part of the project’s commitment to sustainability.

The sustainability theme continues with extensive cycle parking to accommodate active travel.

Broxap designed, manufactured and installed two runs of customised Apollo cycle shelters offering pupil cycle parking for up to 96 bikes.

A separate staff cycle parking area was created with a matching Apollo shelter and mild steel Sheffield Cycle Stands.

Stainless Steel Sheffield Cycle Stands offer visitor parking facing the river.

Elsewhere in the school grounds, a Fixed Square Parasol Tensile Structure offers shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.

And to help maintain the school’s smart appearance, 120 litre Buxton Litter Bins and 240-litre Buxton Double Recycling Bins feature across the site.

Parking signage and motorcycle bay hoop barriers completed the project.