The new co-educational school has places for 1,400 pupils from early years through to sixth form. The scheme required the demolition of existing buildings and sustainability was a major consideration in the construction of the new building. In addition to biomass boilers, photo voltaic cells and highly sustainable cladding and curtain walling, the new school is naturally ventilated to ensure the minimum carbon footprint.
The existing school remained open and operational throughout the works and was demolished once the first phase was handed over in September 2007. Final completion was October 2008.
St Mary Magdalene was designed to maximise use of a very tight urban site: the built Academy’s internal floor area is approximately the same as the overall gross site area. The new school is an example of how to optimise available space to provide high quality indoor and outdoor spaces. The school also illustrates our interest with the relationship between internal spaces – autonomy with coherence. Whilst the walls are mainly clad with clay tiles and laminated timber-framed windows, the halls are picked out with sharply detailed hardwood cladding, adding quality and presence.
The project proved to be politically contentious in its early stages and extensive consultations were undertaken with all parties: staff, governors, Local Authority, planners and local residents. The completed Academy now plays an important role in the community, with a range of facilities shared by pupils and public. Views in, out and throughout present an easily-navigated series of memorable spaces to orientate and delight users.