Shetland School, New Education Building, Architect, Design Competition News

New Shetland School : Mid Yell Junior High

Mid Yell School, Shetland Building design by Gareth Hoskins Architects, Scotland

11 Jul 2006

Shetland School Building

Hoskins Wins Mid Yell Junior High School in Shetland

Gareth Hoskins Architects has won an invited competition with Lerwick based architectural practice Peter Johnson Partnership, to design a new £7.25M junior high school for Shetland Islands Council, on the island of Yell.

The new building will replace the existing 1960’s school and as the only junior high school on the island will cater for a broad range of age groups from 3 to 16 years old. It is envisaged that this new 3300m² scheme, will provide cutting edge facilities for 20 nursery children and 100 primary and secondary school pupils.

The design for the new school will be informed not only by the site, which overlooks a natural harbour, but particularly by the challenging environment of the Island itself.

The new Mid Yell Junior High School also provides an exciting opportunity to weave together a number of current educational and social policy strands, and bring these to life in a school for the 21st Century. The integrated children’s service’s agenda, the principles of the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ and the move towards more vocational educational opportunities will all be key considerations in the design of the new school.

Any educational environment for children should inspire potential. The proposal to build a new school on Yell is an opportunity to create an educational environment, which balances a number of challenging aspects to create a place in which children, teachers and support staff can enjoy a stimulating and inclusive environment for learning.

Mid Yell Junior High School – Background

The project team consists of Gareth Hoskins Architects collaborating with Peter Johnson Partnership, Lerwick based architectural practice that will bring extensive local knowledge and understand the challenges of building on the island. Mechanical and Electrical and Structural Engineers – Harley Haddow. Quantity Surveyors – David Adamson and Partners.

The project was originally intended as an extension and refurbishment of the existing 1960s Junior High School to address access issues, allow replacement of temporary classrooms and provide additional space. However, detailed investigations revealed that the limitations of the site, the state of the existing building and potential disruption promoted the case for new build over extension and refurbishment. As such, Shetland Islands Council approved funding of the New Mid Yell Junior High School in Autumn 2005.

The appointment of Gareth Hoskins Architects followed a tendering exercise in which 6 firms competed for the work on the basis of both price and quality of service. Gareth Hoskins’ will now begin working with the Project Team, school and stakeholders to review the current brief and progress the design for the new school.

This exciting project adds to the portfolio of education projects in which Gareth Hoskins Architects have been undertaking. Ranging from built projects, research studies, and pupil workshops. Gary Johnson, Project Director took part in the ‘Senses of place’ conference held at The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture and Design in Glasgow, on 25th May 2006, which discussed the future designs of Scotland’s schools.

Gareth Hoskins Architects are one of the leading architecture and design practices in the UK. The practice’s innovative and people focused designs have resulted in a wide range of prominent projects both throughout the UK and abroad. The imaginative and responsive buildings, environments and designs that result from the practice’s approach have been widely recognised through major press coverage and a string of national exhibitions and awards, including the award as the Best Young Architectural Practice in the UK.

Gareth Hoskins Architects featured in the AJ Corus 40 under 40, an exhibition showcasing work by 40 of the UK’s leading architects with a principal under the age of 40, which was shown at the V & A Museum, London and in the Royal Museum, Edinburgh to coincide with the Stirling Prize Award. Gareth Hoskins Architects designed the new RIBA Architecture Galleries at the V & A Museum and are currently working on the Royal Museum redevelopment masterplan.

Mid Yell School, Shetland – Building information from Gareth Hoskins Architects, 110706

Shetland School architects : Gareth Hoskins

Location: Shetland, Isles northern Scotland