A lesson in design

Eastwood High School is a new state-of-the-art secondary school providing a flexible, stimulating and inclusive learning environment for pupils and staff alike.

Sitting in a mature woodland setting, the school’s teaching spaces are wrapped around a vibrant central atrium learning hub which is flooded with natural light.

The new Eastwood High has provided young people with the opportunity to learn in the best environment and with its exemplary educational and sports facilities has made a real difference to the local community.

The Brief

Working with East Renfrewshire Council and Scottish Futures Trust, our task for this project wasn’t merely to build a school, but to deliver a series of spaces that would give young people an opportunity to learn in the very best environment.

In order to deliver an exemplary learning space for 1,220 pupils, we would need to integrate existing buildings into the design, focus on the needs of both the pupils and the staff, and find solutions to challenging budgetary and programming constraints.

The Design

Located on a semi-rural site, Eastwood High School is surrounded by mature trees, and our use of naturally-inspired external materials, such as corten steel and Caithness stone-walling allows the building to blend into its natural setting.

The bright and open central atrium provides a teaching, learning and social space with upper floor open balconies taking students where they need to go, while creating a three dimensional and energetic environment. The new indoor sports facility, wrapped around the existing sports building, adds new changing facilities, a dance studio, a gym and a large games hall.

Awards

We don’t design for awards; we design for people. But once in a while, it’s nice to take stock of external measures of success.

2013
Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA) Awards
Winner – Design Award for Education