Two Bridges Academy delivers inclusive, sustainable education for pupils with complex needs. Our tailored facilities enhance learning, wellbeing, and community engagement, offering long-term benefits for students, their families and staff.
Two Bridges Academy
- Client: Department for Education
- Location: Alveston, South Gloucestershire
- Value: £13.9m
Services
- Interior design
- Landscape architecture
- Social value
- Sustainability
Awards
- Architect of the Year Awards
- Education Estates Awards
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Two Bridges Academy is an all-through school for pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and autism.
We were appointed to design and deliver the project, on behalf of the Department for Education through the Construction Framework.
Our architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and masterplanning teams collaborated to deliver a tailored education for pupils with complex needs, and support families with a sense of community and reassurance.
Our design approach exemplifies how thoughtful design can address broader social and environmental priorities, ensuring long-term benefits for pupils, families, and the wider community.
Social value
Since opening, Two Bridges Academy has become a hub of opportunity and support for both pupils and the wider community. Our design creates a nurturing environment where students with complex needs can thrive, while families feel reassured and included. Staff benefit from modern, flexible spaces that enhance teaching and care, and community access to the main hall, hydrotherapy pool, and therapy areas strengthens local connections. Two Bridges demonstrates how thoughtful, inclusive design can deliver lasting social value—empowering learners, supporting families, and enriching Alveston as a vibrant, accessible, and inspiring community resource.
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In focus
Interior design
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Immersive Sensory Studio and therapeutic hydrotherapy pool nurture exploration, confidence, and joy in learning.
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Our interior design champions growth and wellbeing.
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Sustainability
Sustainability was embedded from the outset, using our Greenbuild toolkit and dynamic modelling to achieve net-zero carbon in operation. The result is a future-ready, community-focused campus that supports pupils, staff, and families across Alveston.
Through dynamic simulation modelling aligned with CIBSE TM54, we accurately predicted operational energy use, ensuring real-world performance. Our design integrates air source heat pumps, PV panels, and heat recovery systems.
Outdoor learning areas enhance biodiversity via native planting, and improve student wellbeing.
We achieved a 16.5% energy contingency, surpassing DfE’s net zero carbon standards. This project exemplifies our commitment to sustainable design beyond compliance, aligning with South Gloucestershire Council’s carbon neutrality goals and the DfE’s Pathfinder initiative.
Project data
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Two Bridges is designed to be net-zero carbon in operation
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Finalised annual energy load is 18 kWh/m²/year
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16.5% contingencybetween anticipated PV energy output and building energy use
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Air source heat pumps (ASHP) installed to reduce energy demand
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Natural and mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery
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PV panels on the roof generate onsite energy
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Biodiversity improved with native planting and wildflower meadows
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Permeable drainage systems reduce surface water runoff
Inclusive, purpose-built learning spaces
Two Bridges Academy is an inclusive, purpose-built school that puts pupils’ needs first. The school is centred around a wide, easy-to-navigate corridor with accessible stair cores, a large lift, and a unique ramp linking floors—promoting independence, dignity, and choice.
Classrooms, therapy spaces, and sensory rooms are seamlessly integrated, creating a supportive environment where every child can thrive. Thoughtful touches, from specialist hygiene facilities to quiet breakaway areas, ensure pupils feel safe, empowered, and able to follow their own learning journey. This is inclusive design in action—practical, flexible, and full of heart.
