jmarchitects Host Education Workshops at Castlehead High School!
As part of Hub West Scotland and BAM’s Education Programme, jmarchitects were delighted to host a series of workshops for pupils at Castlehead High School, introducing them to the architectural profession and providing a hands-on opportunity to design an outdoor classroom.
As part of the social value offering associated with the new Thistle Primary School, BAM, in partnership with Hub West Scotland and the design team, are delivering an Education Programme for young people across Renfrewshire. To support this initiative, jmarchitects visited Castlehead High School to deliver a series of workshops for pupils with an interest in the construction industry. The workshops complemented Renfrewshire Council's existing My Future Pathway and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) programmes, helping pupils gain an insight into future career opportunities and prepare for the world of work.
Over the course of the workshops, jmarchitects introduced pupils to the role of an architect and explored how architects collaborate with the many disciplines involved in the construction industry. Pupils were then presented with a live design brief from their client, the Head Teacher of Bishopton Primary School, who required a new outdoor classroom. The pupils developed their brief for the project by mapping out areas with masking tape to understand the area required and itemising specific elements that would make the space robust and innovative. They explored a range of additional architectural tools, including conducting site analysis, researching architectural precedents to develop a ‘vision board’ that would inspire and inform their own designs, and learning how to draw plans, sections and elevations.
The workshops provided valuable insight into the architectural design process, encouraging creative thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork while introducing the tools and techniques used within the profession. It was rewarding to see the pupils develop their skills in just a few weeks and be able to confidently present their ideas back to their peers. The pupils will next be taking their ideas to the engineers to understand how their structures will be supported and serviced.
We are all looking forward to next year to see what the final design and build results in!
“The aim is for the pupils to gain experience in a wide range of trades and also learn key core employability skills. They will also have a chance to write CVs, have mock interviews, and meet the supply chain. After the programme is complete, we hope to see as many pupils go on to take part in graduate apprenticeships, trade apprenticeships, work experience, college placements, or move to full time roles’’.
Aimee Sutherland, Social Sustainability Co-ordinator, BAM Construction Ltd
