Caunton were employed on the new Richard Rose Central Academy contract in Carlisle by main contractor Kier Construction. This £26million project comprises two main wings linked by a large glazed main atrium.

The elegant roof beams are fabricated box girders and tapered in profile. They are very much an architectural feature with top boom channels (380x100PFC) and plated webs (thickness 20mm) connected by countersunk bolts. The web plates are tapered from 1metre at the centre to 0.6m at the ends. Each beam was fabricated in two pieces and the central splice designed as an architectural feature and again requiring countersunk bolts. There are nine beams in total spanning from 19 to 26 metres. The heaviest weighs nearly ten tonnes.

The staircases will be a striking feature of the atrium, rising to suit the two storeys of the main building of course, and the feature walkway adds to the experience. The staircase treads are fabricated from 6mm pressed flat and are connected to the RHS stringers. MD60 floor decking was used for both the landings and the bridge. The flight assemblies weigh up to a sizeable seven tonnes.

The overall appearance of the Academy will be much enhanced by this imaginative design.