1 June 2011
Capita Symonds has been nominated for three awards at the BCSE’s
Best of British School Awards.
The Willow Tree Primary School in Salford has
been nominated in the ‘Excellence in Design For Teaching &
Learning: Primary’ and ‘Healthy Schools Award - Excellence in the
provision of Dining or outdoor play facilities’ categories; while
Southwark Primary School in Nottingham has been nominated in the
‘Excellence in Design For Teaching & Learning: Primary’
category.
The first primary school in Nottingham to
achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, Southwark Primary School is
located in Old Basford in the heart of Nottingham. Designed by
Capita Symonds’ Cardiff office, the new school caters for 630
children aged 5-11 while the nursery caters for 90 children aged
3-5. The school is organised into family clusters gathered around
an open courtyard providing a number of unique spaces that will
help the school explore a variety of innovative teaching
styles.
Children have the opportunity to learn and
play in a wide diversity of internal and external environments
including large hub spaces, adventure playgrounds, a theatre style
main hall; and a ‘sky rocket’ - a retreat zone providing specialist
support within a peaceful, inspirational setting looking over the
green rooftops and courtyard space.
Commissioned by Salford City
Council, the Willow Tree Primary School is
a two form entry primary school delivering 21st century
transformational learning to the local community. Direct
links between the internal and external spaces benefit the
children’s learning experience while natural play is the focus of
the external design, including walk in sand pits, large boulders,
water play and timber equipment.
Pupils are given the opportunity to enjoy
varied habitats and resources within the school grounds such as the
wetland habitat, kitchen garden, park area and woodland seating
areas. The project also features beautiful wall coverings, deep
pile carpets and ergonomically designed furniture.
Urban Vision – Capita Symonds joint venture
partnership with Salford City Council - provided a full
multidisciplinary service on the project – Architectural &
Interior Design, Landscape Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Project
Managers, Property Services, CDM Coordinator, Mechanical &
Electrical Engineering, Clerks of Works, Civil and Structural
Engineering, Highways & Drainage Engineering, Environmental
& Geotechnical Services, Acoustics Consultants, Planning
Consultants, Traffic & transportation advice, Environmental
& Ecological Consultants.
The winners will be announced in London on
Wednesday 22nd June.