Strathallan School, Prep school

Strathallan is a private boarding and day school for children from ages five through to eighteen. Following a masterplan which set out a ten year improvement plan for the school, the need for additional classroom space to support the accommodation of early years, was taken forward in the design of a new prep school building including a dining hall, along with new music and changing blocks. 

Over its 100 year history, the 153 acre rural campus has grown to include boarding accommodation, academic classrooms, sports facilities and library amongst wider campus amenities.  

With planning permission secured, the design for the new facilities is set to evolve the rich history of the school which celebrated its centenary on it's current site, four years ago. 

Each development plot has been carefully selected and analysed to ensure an optimum location to create vibrant places for education and learning. 

All new buildings not only respond to their context in terms of scale but offer an appropriate scale for the children.

Designed as a single storey, unobtrusive pavilion building in response to the ridge levels of adjacent bungalows, the new primary 1 to 4 classroom block sits modestly and harmoniously within the landscape, with a low parapet. Through careful orientation, natural light is optimised through small projecting rooflights, ideal for a teaching environment while providing passive external solar shading through building overhangs. These overhangs double as canopies for external play and provide access points with a clear identity.

The building orientation optimises the external play area available to the south, with classrooms providing views and direct access. An external WC and sheltered play area is provided underneath the building overhangs, with external slab and astroturf. 

The proposed building is steel frame with a non-combustible, vertical timber effect cladding board, chosen for its calming effect and keeping with the natural surroundings of the site.

Coloured fibre cement cladding panels are proposed to the areas under the overhangs in sage green to compliment the timber effect cladding while being calming and non-gender specific.

The playground would contain natural materials, inspiring children to be outside and interact with the surrounding environment.

Internally, soft furnishing and joinery fixtures comprise of seating and shelving for books and digital devices. Quiet learning space will be naturally lit via new glazing to the existing roof.

Located in areas of the campus which currently lack activity and animation, the new additions seek to inject energy into these areas, greatly improving the quality of space for the school.

Strathallan School is home to a small, close community. The new facilities allow children to complete their full educational journey on campus and with a new assembly hall, greater parental involvement is possible through evening gatherings, school plays and events.