WORK is set to start on a multi-million pound school sports and performing arts centre.

Governors at the King’s School, Worcester, have awarded the construction contract for the SPACE project to Kier Construction.

The £9 million development will comprise of a four-court, multi-use sports hall and fitness centre for both school and community use, as well as dance and drama studios, additional teaching space and a brand new sixth form centre.

Tim Keyes, headmaster of King’s School, said: “The ambitious SPACE project marks a major step forward for the school and will help us to realise some key long-term goals.

“The addition of a second sports hall, new training facilities and performance spaces will take sport and the performing arts at King's to the next level.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our fund-raisers and generous donations from supporters of the project, this building will not only become a great asset to the school but will also supply a much-needed resource for the local community.

“We hope that it will inspire the next generation of Olympic athletes.”

Designed by Associated Architects, SPACE is the ninth project undertaken by the Birmingham-based firm for King’s.

Previous projects have included the recently completed Michael Baker Boathouse, which has been shortlisted for an RIBA award.

The centre will be built on the site of the former Salmon’s Leap pub on the edge of the historic King’s campus, close to Worcester city centre, and on the former defensive line of Worcester Castle.

The design of the building includes a brick façade topped with a bronze-clad upper floor, making reference to the site dating back to the Bronze Age. Cutting-edge technology will be used to heat and power the building through the installation of a biomass boiler and solar panels.

Lettering sculptor Gary Breeze has also been commissioned to create a number of high quality metalwork panels to be incorporated into the façade to reflect the site’s history.

The SPACE project will be partially funded by the school community and they have so far raised £750,000 of their £1 million target.

The first phase of construction will start next month, with the entire project due for completion by summer 2014.