October 2 2019

Morrison Construction has commenced work on a combined £30m Additional Support Needs School and a Respite and Residential facility in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, described as being the first of its type in Scotland.

Designed by Norr Architects with Hub South West the unique facility will provide places for 200 young people and provide a wealth of facilities ranging from a swimming pool and sensory spaces to external classrooms. Health and social care practitioners will also be accommodated on-site with their own first-aid, therapy and treatment facilities.

North Ayrshire councillor John Bell commented: “The ASN school is going to be much more than bricks and mortar. It’s going to provide an environment which will make a huge difference to the learning experience and lives of children and young people

“Being adjacent to Auchenharvie Academy, we are sure the campus will create exciting opportunities for joint working and learning between the school communities. The design of the school is stunning, providing lots of open spaces for young people to learn and thrive.”

Work is now taking place to prepare the foundations with completion anticipated by 2020.

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Gee on 2 Oct 2019 at 11:53 AM

Ahhhhhh, I'm sure those students will look fondly back on their days at School Name.

#2 Posted by Sue Pearman on 2 Oct 2019 at 14:51 PM

I do feel sorry for these kids - I think the design of a school should be about enhancing the learning experience and should not make you feel disappointed about where you have to go to learn.

#3 Posted by Dulnain on 2 Oct 2019 at 18:14 PM

Surely there has been an error in editing the feature, either the text or the visuals are incorrect, they don’t relate!

#4 Posted by deus ex machina on 3 Oct 2019 at 09:26 AM

#2 - 'i do feel sorry for these kids'

Don't be daft - this was never about 'the kids' - This whole design ethos was about the client body, the contractor, spreadsheets. and the architects.
The sad reading and language of the D&A statement illustrates the sheer gulf between those who design buildings and those whom will actually use them.
As to how far we have come 'politically' in the last 60 years, compare and contrast the lack of any architectural sensibility in this design with, for example, the architectural ethos of the original drawings and interior/exterior plan form of Aldo Van Eyck's 1960's orphanage in Amsterdam and ask yourself whether our 'humanity' in how we regard children has advanced in any way?

These BARRACKS in both form and resultant aesthetic will quite happily sit within the MINISTRY of DEFENCE property portfolio. Ask yourself quite simply why is that so? A structural re-think is clearly needed in terms of commercial procurement and in the self-education of architects.

#2 - you are spot on.

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