Langlee Primary School

2018

Stallan-Brand were appointed by the Scottish Borders Council to design and deliver a new building for Langlee Primary in Langlee, Galashiels. The new school is a tandem build on the playground adjacent to the existing school.

The design solution for the 4,035 m², 18 classroom (14 standard and 4 ASN) was the creation of a simple linear building, smaller than the existing building, allowing more space for landscaping and playground areas. The new building seeks to strike a balance between providing a clear focal point in the community andresponding to the scale of the steep slope to the north of the site and the elevated housing.

The composition of the north facing elevation is intended to intrigue and engage with both the pupils and the local community. The bronzed cladding of the elevation provides a unique sculptural identity to the school while reinforcing the concept of a building within a generous landscape setting.

Locating the building in the middle of the site allows the spaces around the school to become more defined, reduce the effects of overshadowing from the surrounding trees, benefiting from increased sunlight creating a safe approach for pedestrians. A key consideration in the design is providing generous and attractive south facing playground areas which are directly accessible from the ground floor classrooms. A rich landscape proposal was developed, enhancing existing features of the site and its environment, developing new educational resources by providing external teaching areas and a progressive learning environment.

PROJECT: Langlee Primary School

LOCATION: Langlee Drive, Galashiels

CLIENT: Scottish Borders Council

ARCHITECT: Stallan-Brand

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Goodsons Associates

SERVICES ENGINEER: Davie + McCulloch

QUANTITY SURVEYOR: Thomson Gray

PROJECT MANAGER: Turner & Townsend