Milltimber School design recognised for strong placemaking principles

Milltimber School by Tenderstream member Scott Brownrigg has been awarded an Aberdeen Society of Architects (ASA) Education Design Award 2023. The new school offers increased capacity for 434 pupils and an additional 60 early learning and childcare places, ensuring that pupils in the growing catchment area can continue to attend their local primary school with other children from their community.

The aim of the ASA awards is to raise the public profile of good quality architecture, creating a showcase for the profession whilst demonstrating architects’ skills and the contribution of projects to the built environment. The jury praised the design for its inherently strong sustainable and placemaking principles, which include the creation of a central public square to unite the existing community of Milltimber within the new fabric of the surrounding area’s residential masterplan. 

ASA also singled out the design for its effective use of in-between spaces to create moments that enhance curriculum delivery. The shape and materiality of spaces, alongside colourful wayfinding and nature-themed supergraphics, echo the natural forms of nearby landscapes and help to define character areas within the school. 

Four teaching pavilions incorporating breakout activity spaces are arranged along a widened linear circulation route with community, assembly and s upported learning spaces adjacent to activate the route. The teaching pavilions are situated on the playground side of the site, linking classrooms to external spaces. The reception, together with larger spaces such as the hall, form a formal frontage to the proposed community square. 

Level access from all classrooms is provided to the outside space, which features a learning landscape with paved and planted areas, a sensory garden, outdoor learning and play facilities, and a 3G synthetic pitch. The division of public and private or front and back in the scheme allow for parts of the building to open up for community use.

When the building was completed last year, headteacher Lynsey Cradock, stated: “This facility will provide a wonderful learning environment for our pupils which will enable them to grow, achieve and succeed not only now but also in the future. With all our wonderful facilities, we can truly become the heart of the community.”

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 14.11.2019 here

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