Ayr nursery, primary school, community arts centre, archives and registry building images, property news

Ayr Education Hub Building News

16 Nov 2022

BDP scoops double win at Learning Places Scotland Awards

photo : David Barbour

BDP was presented with two awards and a double commendation at the annual Learning Places Scotland Awards on Tuesday 15 November at the Hilton Glasgow.

The awards celebrate outstanding projects that support the best education outcomes.

After winning the coveted “Project of the Year” award, for its design of the Ayr Grammar Campus, BDP’s state-of-the-art Heriot Watt University Dubai Campus was highly commended in the same category. The practice went on to win the “Innovation in Delivering a Sustainable Learning Space” award for its University of Strathclyde Learning and Teaching Building and, following a win in the category last year, received a commendation for “Architectural Practice of the Year”.

BDP’s work at Ayr Grammar creates new spaces for education alongside community resources. The mixed-use development delivers a nursery, primary school and community arts centre. It also provides a publicly accessible, dedicated home for the Ayrshire Archives and Registry, which is a repository for the county’s historical records and the Ayrshire fine art collection.

Discussing the project win, Lindsey Mitchell, BDP Architect Director, said:
“This award shows what can be achieved through a collaborative approach to architecture. By working with our partners, and consulting with parents, students and teachers, we developed the design to convert and extend an existing Victorian building to form a contemporary primary school with inspiring spaces that promote a range of teaching and learning styles and encourage children to reach their potential.

“We were able to safeguard local history and the legacy of education on the site, regenerating the town centre with community resources that benefit from improved access. BDP’s project team is delighted that the judges have recognised that our adaptive reuse of Ayr’s built heritage has created a fantastic multi-generational resource for the community.”

Also delivered through the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, BDP’s design for the University of Strathclyde’s 20,000sqm Learning and Teaching Building is a redevelopment of the existing Colville Building and B-listed Architecture Building. Both structures were transformed to create vibrant spaces combining teaching and student facilities. They are united by a new student hub that overlooks the University’s Rottenrow Gardens. BDP’s creative redevelopment of these existing buildings has delivered significant benefits for the environment, resulting in a 67% reduction in embodied carbon compared to an equivalent new building.

Martin Jarvie, BDP Architect Associate, said: “It was clear to our team that Strathclyde’s existing buildings had huge potential that provided a perfect opportunity for us in the adaptive reuse of these assets. We’re absolutely delighted that the new facilities provide fresh and engaging spaces that staff and students are really enjoying. By taking the decision to improve and reuse what was already there, we’ve managed significantly to reduce the project’s embodied carbon whilst creating a high-quality and sustainable resource for the whole University.”

29 November 2021

Design: BDP

BDP adaptive reuse project wins conservation award at GIA Design Awards

Photos by David Barbour

Ayr Grammar Campus Building

BDP picked up a special conservation award at this year’s GIA for its Ayr Grammar Campus project. The project also received a commendation in the Education category following the full refurbishment of a Grade B Listed building that was originally home to Ayr Academy.

Designed by BDP’s Glasgow studio team, the sensitive restoration of the historic building located on the edge of the 17th Century Citadel of Ayr offers a contemporary learning environment in a historic setting, bringing together the multi-generational community in one facility.

Lindsey Mitchell for Ayr Grammar, BDP, said:
“What a fantastic week for BDP! We are incredibly proud to receive this commendation and the special award for conservation at Ayr Grammar.

“We understand that architects have a responsibility to design educational buildings for a diverse range of needs and to go above and beyond to create meaningful experiences in these spaces. Ayr Grammar is a great example of our approach to the restoration of historic buildings and how their reuse can be sustainable and relevant to contemporary education, providing spaces that deliver both academic and social benefits to the wider community. We have successfully breathed new life into a fantastic building.”

The GIA Awards win follows BDP picking up Architectural Practice of the Year at the annual Learning Places Scotland Awards this week, with Maidenhill Primary School and Nursery also winning the award in the Inspiring Learning Spaces Category.

Pictures: David Barbour

Previously on Glasgow Architecture:

8 June 2021

Ayr Grammar primary school news

Design: BDP Glasgow

BDP school design makes Scottish Design Awards shortlist

Ayr Grammar primary school, designed by BDP’s Glasgow studio, has been shortlisted in the annual Scottish Design Awards.

The sensitively restored historic building, located on the edge of the 17th Century Citadel of Ayr, is one of six buildings making the education building & project category shortlist.

Lindsey Mitchell, Architect Director, BDP Glasgow Studio said, “It is great to see a restoration project making the shortlist in this year’s Scottish Design Awards. Ayr Grammar Primary School is a great example of our approach to the restoration of historic buildings and how their reuse can be relevant to contemporary education, providing spaces that deliver both academic and social benefits to the wider community.”

The new education hub offers a nursery, a primary school, a Community Arts Centre, and a new home for the Ayrshire Archives and Registry which also houses the Ayrshire fine art collection.

Judging will take place with the Scottish Design Awards winners announced at the digital awards ceremony broadcast live online on 15 July.

It is well worth studying NECTA FTNA Results.

19 May 2021

Ayr Education Hub Facility

Design: BDP Glasgow Studio

BDP designed education hub to welcome the community

Ayr Grammar Primary School pupils are enjoying their new school following the full refurbishment of a Grade B Listed building that was originally home to Ayr Academy.

Designed by BDP’s Glasgow studio, the sensitive restoration of the historic building located on the edge of the 17th Century Citadel of Ayr offers a contemporary learning environment in an historic setting.

Following full consultation with parents, pupils, staff, South Ayrshire Council, and the wider community, the new education hub has been created to offer a nursery, a primary school, a Community Arts Centre, and a new home for the Ayrshire Archives and Registry which houses the repositories for historical records and the Ayrshire fine art collection.

Lindsey Mitchell, Architect Director at BDP, said: “This project is an exemplar of how the re-use of historic buildings is relevant to contemporary education. We are hopeful that this fantastic refurbishment will be the catalyst for further regeneration of this important historic area in the town of Ayr.”

“This new education hub is a great example of how to bring the community together in one facility. The creation of a new public amenity that overlooks the river Ayr, and offers active frontage to South Harbour Street, provides the town with a real multi-generational offer that breathes new life into a fantastic historic building.”