THE new Maybole Community Campus in South Ayrshire has officially opened.
The facility was designed by BDP and delivered by hub South West Scotland, with Morgan Sindall the main contractor on the project.
The campus combines three primary schools, a secondary school, and a nursery into a single, cohesive complex. Carrick Academy, St Cuthbert’s Primary School, and the Culzean Primary School and Early Years Centre (formed from the amalgamation of Gardenrose and Cairn Primary schools) are all housed within the new building, creating an ‘inspiring’ learning environment for 1,370 pupils.
The facilities include a leisure pool, café, outdoor sports centre, sports pavilion, and a new police office for the historic market town of Maybole.
BDP explained that the design of the campus eases the transition of learners from one stage of education to another and encourages ‘consistent and beneficial’ use by the community.
The high school’s central atrium is a flexible space that accommodates a range of teaching, learning opportunities and spaces for use by the local community groups. Shared indoor and outdoor physical education facilities are intended to bring the pupils together, while the integrated nursery offers early-stage learning opportunities.
The combined primary schools share flexible social and dining spaces that connect to a playground split over two levels. The nursery, located under the primary school playground, is connected to the rest of the campus and has its own south facing, secure garden.
The building has been designed to comply with SFT LEIP in-use energy targets.
BDP added that sustainability measures include an all-electric, low carbon campus and high levels of fabric insulation.
Lindsey Mitchell, architect director at BDP, said, “It’s so gratifying to be able to improve the learning experiences for young people across Scotland and this unique design offers a dynamic setting which has the needs of the pupils at its heart. It provides stimulating flexible spaces which will encourage and inspire those who use it as well as delivering a community space for the people of Maybole. It’s wonderful to see the buildings come to life.”
The project was part-funded through the SFT Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).
