SCALA Civic Building of the Year Competition, 2007

New Build category: Winner

Wolverhampton City Council
St Jude’s Primary School

The design of this new two form entry school with a nursery evolved through an extensive participatory process, involving parents, staff and governors.

It is sited on steeply sloping land, and incorporates split level plans allowing the building to step down the site in a cascade of roofs and terraces.

There are four distinct teaching units - ‘schools within the school’ - plus kitchen, administration and shared resources. The teaching units are clearly legible externally, with their own entrance from the playground, shared activity space, cloakrooms, quiet rooms and toilets.

The roof oversails the edge of the building providing both shelter and shade. All teaching spaces are designed with high and low openings to encourage buoyancy driven ventilation. Ceilings are high throughout the building with additional opening lights placed in screens between shared activity spaces and the corridors to increase cross ventilation on hot days. This strategy proved successful during the summer of 2006 when the interior of the building remained cool with very high external temperatures.

 

Architect:

Baart Harries Newall

Quantity Surveyor:

GG&P (UK) Ltd

Structural Engineer:

Whitbybird

Mechanical and Electrical Engineer:

FaberMaunsell

Main Contractor:

Thomas Vale Construction

Landscape Architect:

Camlin Lonsdale

Acoustic Consultants:

BDP