Beeslack replacement school information
Design proposal 1
Location and Brief
The new Beeslack Community High School will provide a new replacement school and swimming pool for the learners and community in the wider area of Bilston and Penicuik. The project symbolises Midlothian Council’s ethos for a fully integrated centre for STEM excellence, with the building sending out a clear message on the value the council places on the quality of the educational environment for our young people, communities and citizens of the future, whilst embodying an integrally sustainable design and life-cycle approach.
The design solutions have been informed by this process in conjunction with a detailed analysis of the site and local environment to create a building that is welcoming, vibrant, secure and efficient. This process will ensure that the building will be bespoke and will maximise the potential of the site for the pupils, staff and visitors.
Picture caption: Aerial view of the location of the new school with a key from 1-5 showing where the exsting Beeslack High School is along with Roslin Primary, Bilston Primary, Paradykes Primary and Loanhead Primary School.
Beeslack High School is proposed to be located in Bilston, Midlothian, to the south of Edinburgh. The site lies on the edge of the village, adjacent to the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush Campus and within close proximity to new residential developments.
The site is quadrilateral in shape and located to the immediate south west of Bilston. The catchment area of the school extends to the north, south and west of the site.
The northern, western and eastern site boundaries are defined by historic plot lines from the original agricultural use of the site, these area being bounded by existing mature trees.
The surrounding area is predominantly farmland with an innovation campus boarding part of the western edge.
Seafield Moor Road splits the two parts of the site, whilst the northern extent of the site is bounded by Seafield Road.
The aerial view denotes the proposed location of the new site in orange, and its relationship to the existing Beeslack High School along with the location of primary schools which are within the new facilities catchment area:
- Existing Beeslack High School
- Roslin Primary School
- Bilston Primary School
- Paradykes Primary School
- Loanhead Primary School
Principal Drivers
The current stage of the process explores the briefing and design options related to the provision of a new 1200 pupil secondary school in conjunction with a new pool to create a state-of-the-art education facility.
Midlothian Council’s vision for the new school is to create an environment of nurture, equality and achievement for all. The new school should be a vibrant and sustainable community where inspirational learning takes place within an inclusive learning environment.
Midlothian Council has a strong belief in developing the way that education is delivered through an open collaborative learning environment and the current design proposals seek to envisage this, providing a series of flexible interchangeable spaces within an overall building plan that provides opportunities for pupils of all ages to transition, interact and learn from each other.
The principle drivers for this project are:
Light: The importance of lots of natural daylighting and its roll in enhancing staff and pupil wellbeing
Picture caption: Light filled empty space with two children, one going to kick a ball and one seated on a toy
Openness - The idea of openness and the importance of seeing learning happen
Picture caption: open bright hall with desks and chairs
Ambience - The desire to create a unique ambience through materiality and lighting
Picture caption: light-filled ground floor of building with staircase leading to upper floor on right
Arrival - The importance of the sense of arrival
Picture caption: An external wood slatted building with courtyard front and tree surrounding. People standing and sitting in courtyard
Views - There should be a strong visual relationship from inside the building out into the natural context
Picture caption: internal shot of building with wall of windows looking out onto trees and grass. People moving around in foreground
Flexible Space & Community - Given the commercial pressures on council budgets the idea of schools that can function more flexibly as community assets is essential. Spaces that can provide multiple functions in the design are considered essential
Picture caption: steps of large building being used for seating
STEM - Internal and external spaces that encourage innovative and experiential learning
Picture caption: classroom with wooden desk and shelving with object on table top in foreground
Community Inclusion - The use of space in the building after school hours is much more commonplace now in comparison to the past and has proven to establish a much stronger bond between parents, teachers, pupils as well as other active community groups
Picture caption: gym hall with wood on walls