A Midland secondary school almost totally destroyed in a devastating fire has reopened following a £17 million redesign by Worcestershire architects BBLB.

Pupils at Avon Valley School, a performing arts college in Newbold, to the north of Rugby, have spent the past few years being taught in a village of portable buildings following the fire in June 2004.

The temporary teaching complex, the biggest installation of its kind in the country, was home to 1,100 while the rebuild went on around them.

However, the mobile units have now been removed and the first full term in the new accommodation is almost complete.

"The students have an outstanding new building with first-class facilities," said BBLB partner Simon Jones.

The new building is striking with a design incorporating a central atrium linking all of the new classrooms and teaching departments.

The science block and the sports hall were spared from the fire but have since been refurbished. New kitchen and dining facilities have also been provided.

However, it is the new state-of-the-art theatre that takes centre stage. It provides all the facilities of a full working theatre for the performing arts students, who have access to recording facilities, practice rooms and a dance hall. It also doubles as a school hall.

"Our aim was to provide the optimum balance in terms of good design, functionality and value for money," said Mr Jones.

"This project meets all of the latest Building For Schools principles at a cost that is almost 30 per cent below the usual cost associated with such buildings."

Richard Dobbs, of Miller Construction, said the redevelopment had been challenging because of working on a live site but, ultimately, it had been very successful.

"There are obviously very important health and safety implications to take on board when working around a fully-functional school but we are delighted to have delivered a first-class facility," he said, adding that the experience had been very positive for all those involved.

Avon Valley School director of building Angela Smith said that although the fabric of the school had been destroyed by the fire, its ethos and culture remained as strong as ever during the reconstruction. "The values we have generated and built up over the years are reflected in the new building and we are looking forward to an exciting future in our new school," she said.

BBLB, based in Redditch, is currently working on a portfolio of developments worth more than £650 million.

In addition to the school, the company has also designed the Orion apartment complex in Birmingham city centre, alongside interior designer John Rocha. The fourth phase of this development is currently under construction in John Bright Street.

Other notable projects include The Butts, a £110 million redevelopment of a key gateway site in Coventry for MCD Developments, the Lakeside development in Telford which, will provide 1.5 million sq ft of floor space, and the master planning of the 17-acre site which was formerly Banbury Cattle Market.

On the education front the practice is currently working on the Leicester BSF programme.