Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen

Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Image 2 of 30Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - WindowsLairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Image 4 of 30Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Table, ChairLairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - More Images+ 25

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Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Waterfront
© Dennis Gilbert

Text description provided by the architects. An innovative new primary school has recently opened its doors to local children and is set to pave the way for Scottish primary schools of the future.

Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Image 17 of 30
© Dennis Gilbert

In January 2012 Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) issued an invitation to tender for a reference primary school design as part of Scotland's £1.8 billion Schools for the Future programme, which aims to rebuild or refurbish some of the country’s poorest schools.

Ground Floor Plan

After an intensive period of research, consultation and design, the award-winning Walters & Cohen Architects was chosen for the new Lairdsland Primary School, the first of five new schools to be completed for East Dunbartonshire Council’s Primary School Improvement Programme. Mindful of Scotland's innovative Curriculum for Excellence, and following close consultation with client groups, the school and local parents, the design has been hailed as one which will change the thinking on how schools are laid out in the future.

Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Image 4 of 30
© Dennis Gilbert

Scheduled monument consent was required to build adjacent to the Forth and Clyde Canal and ensure the historic character of the canalside setting was not affected. The resulting two-storey building creates a strong presence towards the towpath opposite and the adjacent marina, improving the sense of community in this industrial area.

Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Image 2 of 30
© Dennis Gilbert

The design is contemporary to suit a range of teaching and learning styles. The acoustic design was carefully considered to ensure that numerous teaching activities could take place in the heart space and the adjacent formal learning areas.

Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Table, Chair
© Dennis Gilbert

The school has double-height glazed screens that offer views from one side of the school to the other; fun and bright learning spaces; covered outdoor learning areas; and an open plan heart space showcasing an amphitheatre staircase. Furniture was also carefully selected to provide flexible teaching opportunities.

Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen - Image 15 of 30
© Dennis Gilbert

The design achieved a BREEAM rating of Excellent. Renewable energy is provided by a biomass boiler and photovoltaics on the roof. The local authority has already used the principles of the design in a number of new schools. 

North Elevation
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Project location

Address:70 Donaldson St, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire G66, UK

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Lairdsland Primary School / Walters & Cohen" 22 Jan 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/780732/lairdsland-primary-school-walters-and-cohen> ISSN 0719-8884

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