Kilpatrick ASN

The new Kilpatrick ASN has been designed to fully integrate with its idyllic rural setting, maximising the potential of learning in external courtyard spaces (secured), in addition every classroom has a large full width glazed screens that provide stimulating panoramic views into the rural environment that surrounds the school.

Date

2016

Client

West Dunbartonshire Council / Hub West Glasgow

Value

£9.5m

The new Kilpatrick school will provide an Additional Support Needs (ASN) school building which reflects current educational thinking, nestled in a beautiful mature woodland setting.

In addition to a new build ASN secondary school the project includes the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing Hydrotherapy Pool, a small extension to the existing Primary School to facilitate a new Early Years department (< 5 yrs), a 3G sports pitch, a re-landscaped site – including courtyards with sensory planting and soft and hard landscaping which can function as outdoor classrooms, woodland and wetland exploration areas, an upgraded boundary treatment and a target of BREEAM Very Good.

Kilpatrick School is the main ASN School in West Dunbartonshire with an existing total toll of 152 pupils, 89 in the secondary and 63 in the primary. The secondary school nd primary school combined have 48 full time and 37 part time staff. The new 3550m²building will be capable of serving a future roll of 110 secondary pupils and 10 early years pupils and provide General Purpose classrooms for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Severe & Complex Learning Difficulties and Moderate Learning Difficulties, a Gymnasium, Dining Hall and multi-purpose teaching spaces, such as Art & Design, Music, Science and Home Economics.

The completed building has achieved all the aims of the brief. It is a ‘discreet’ building in the landscape, lying low it allows the surrounding tree belt to hold the view.

Inside the building is filled with light and fresh air and views out. It is a relaxed and simple building to move around in, wayfinding is clear, for pupils especially.

The project has been the recipient of important of a number of important awards, but above all the positive feedback from the head teacher and our client is by far the most rewarding.

Project gallery

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The Challenge

The site was located on small hill, and the building had to be completely barrier free. Part of our brief was to avoid retaining structures, and minimise cut and fill, which we managed to achieve.

Another key challenge was the requirement that the new building needed to be linked to the existing primary school and pool area, which influenced the building plan, but by design we managed to not compromise the functionality of the plan.

The Solution

The building is designed as a low lying series of linked pavilions, large secure courtyards between the pavilions (teaching spaces) these provide light, fresh air, and secure outdoor learning and play space.

Our ambition was to make a design that was in harmony with the lush surrounding landscape and to design a building that will enhance the pupil’s and teacher’s experience.

The Outcome

The new school has been embraced by pupils and staff who have stated over and over how well the building supports learning, in a relaxed, informal way, and how well the spaces are filled with sunshine and light, and how all the key spaces feel like there is no barrier between inside and outside. All of these aspects were our key priorities in making the design.