Overview
A primary school with insufficient classroom capacity required a permanent extension to replace long-standing temporary buildings. The brief asked for four new classrooms, improved circulation between the existing school and the extension, and better access to the school's outdoor spaces.
Challenge & Context
The site was constrained on three sides by the existing school building, outdoor play areas, and a protected tree line. The extension had to fit within these constraints while maintaining fire separation from the main building and meeting current educational space standards.
Design Concept
A single-storey pavilion organised as a shared learning corridor with classrooms on the south side and a continuous covered outdoor teaching terrace linking to the garden. The timber structure is left exposed internally, providing a warm, legible ceiling that contributes to the acoustic performance of the rooms.
Outcome
The extension opened ahead of the autumn term and was adopted immediately as the school's preferred teaching space. The outdoor terrace is used daily for science lessons and informal outdoor learning in all but the coldest weather.
