FEATURED STORY

Fast Moving Project

Academy students will have their say on the design of the new Network Rail headquarters in Milton Keynes.

The Engineer Design Trust launched a 10-week project to get Year 8 and 9 students thinking about green issues surrounding the landmark new building being constructed near the railway station in Central Milton Keynes.

Students involved are from The Milton Keynes Academy, Denbigh School, St Paul's Catholic School, Shenley Book End School and Redbourne Upper School and Community College in Ampthill. 

Network Rail civil engineer William Hilary is one of several mentors who will be travelling to Milton Keynes each week for 10 weeks to work with students. He said: "We have set students a challenge about environmental considerations that go into modern building, such as looking at ways of saving energy. Mentors will be real life engineers who can inspire the kids and it will be fun as well as practical."

12-year-old Kenzo Follows of the Academy wants to be an architect and believes the project will be really interesting: "I would like to see ideas from the Tunisian Eco Tower such as rotating solar panels used in the new rail headquarters" he said.

One of the organisers, Deputy Director of Business and Enterprise, Miss Gockelen added: "This is a really hands-on project that will encourage young people to be interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects." 

The Network Rail headquarters is due to house 3,000 people once complete. It is expected to be finished in December 2012.