Southwark Primary School
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. 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.
Value: £13. 5m
Services: Lead Consultant / Architecture, Environmental Design,
Civil & Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, ICT,
Acoustics, Security & Fire Engineering
Start/Completion: 2009–2010
Robin Hood Primary School
The main challenge was to transform an existing
dislocated school plan into landmark building and focus for the
community. The aspiration is geared toward creation of a school
with fun, creativity and pupil achievement at its heart which in
turn showcases healthy and sustainable lifestyles.
The scope of the project comprised a new-build classroom block
to house Key Stage 2, a number of whole school facilities and the
entrance. The new block will centre around the Key Stage 1 and
foundation areas and will form a new heart and gathering space for
the school. Improved pedestrian access onto site and a significant
new build that addresses this will give the school real presence in
the community.
When complete, the school will house 210 pupils aged 4-11 as
well as a 30 place nursery.
Value: £2.8m
Services: Lead Consultant / Architecture, Environmental Design,
Civil & Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, ICT,
Acoustics, Security & Fire Engineering
Start/Completion: 2009-2011
Greenfields Primary School
Greenfields Community School was spread across two
buildings at opposite ends of the site. The Foundation Unit sits
within an existing Sure Start Children’s Centre and is physically
separated from the main school.
The school caters for up to 210 pupils aged 4-11 as well as a 30
place nursery. The two parts of the school have been brought
together and access has been improved. The improvements included
breaking down an existing footpath link into outdoor learning
classrooms and gathering spaces creating opportunities for teaching
and learning within a landscaped setting.
The transformation of the main school building centres around
the creation of a new flexible learning hub and café/library in the
old multi-purpose hall space. This provides a real heart for the
school which it is hoped will draw parents into the school to
experience learning as well as getting involved in the school life.
The two buildings are further brought together by the creation of a
new PE/play-barn as an extension to the main building that faces
the landscaped route to the foundation unit.
This whole school facility is not only a clear signal of
transformational change but is enhancing the sense of place created
by the spaces around it and its connection to the landscape.
Value: £1.4m
Services: Lead Consultant / Architecture, Environmental Design,
Civil & Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, ICT,
Acoustics, Security & Fire Engineering
Start/Completion: 2009-2010
Blue Bell Hill Primary School
Blue Bell Hill Primary is located in a 1930s former
girls school. Although this period building has been remodelled and
extended several times it was in need of investment to prepare it
for 21st century education.
The school caters for 210 pupils aged 4-11 as well as a 30 place
nursery. The school provides a welcoming environment for pupils and
families, acting as a focal point for the local community and a
clear sign of transformational change.
The refurbishment and remodelling has created a meeting place
for parents, enabling them to become involved in school life, which
will be adjacent to family and extended learning facilities to form
a real community hub. A ribbon of hub spaces flow from the meeting
place in a circular path through the building, enhancing and
clearing out existing break out areas to provide shared areas
between classes that can facilitate a number of different learner
settings and enhance teachers’ flexibility. All classrooms have
been remodelled to enhance the teaching and learning environment
and to provide better connection to new outdoor learning areas.
Value: £1.3m
Services: Lead Consultant / Architecture, Environmental Design,
Civil & Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, ICT,
Acoustics, Security & Fire Engineering
Start/Completion: 2009–2011
Henry Whipple Primary School
The brief was to remodel and refurbish the existing
school to facilitate 21st century teaching and learning. The
transformed school and the creation of a landmark building will
improve the school’s standing in the community, making it more
accessible while being able to provide extended school facilities
with a family focus.
The school caters for 210 pupils aged 4-11 as well as a 30 place
nursery. Previously, the school consisted of linear classroom
blocks arranged around a split level courtyard and is built into a
south facing sloped site. The improvements involved roofing over
the central courtyard with a translucent envelope to form a
tempered environment for outdoor learning, play and school/family
activities. This ‘one school’ space is the heart of the scheme and
delivers the scale and landmark status that the school needs. In
addition, existing classroom blocks were remodelled and refurbished
and a new admin and entrance pod within the roofed-over courtyard
has been created.
Value: £3.3m
Services: Lead Consultant / Architecture, Environmental Design,
Civil & Structural Engineering, Landscape Architecture, ICT,
Acoustics, Security & Fire Engineering
Start/Completion: 2009-2010
Robin Hood / Henry Whipple images © virtual planit