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Work gets underway on Wick community campus and primary school

July 16 2014

Work gets underway on Wick community campus and primary school
Work is now underway on two separate education projects in the Highland town of Wick as part of the Scottish Government’s Schools for the future programme.

This will see the existing Wick High school, South Primary School, Pulteneytown Primary School consolidated into a single £48.5m campus with its own integrated library, swimming pool and nursery.

Wick is the second finest example of Georgian town planning in Scotland, prompting Highland Council Architects and Ryder to pursue a contemporary interpretation of simple materials and classical proportions. It is scheduled for completion in 2016.

A separate £14.1m Wick North Primary School is also being built by the practice, slated for delivery by August 2015, as a replacement for the existing North Primary School and Hillhead Primary School.

A design statement for the school noted: “The aluminium standing seam roof which undulates over the school wings and wraps seamlessly over the facade and roof overhangs, helps to create a coherent and simple appearance.

“Frameless translucent polycarbonate cladding to the north and east elevation of the sports block including polycarbonate rooflights will ensure excellent distribution of daylight and reduce glare within the gymnasium. Polycarbonate is also proposed to some break out spaces in order to articulate the facade and create a variation in internal environment; this will be particularly apparent when located against clear glass.”
Wick North Primary School will adopt a cohesive architectural relationship with its bigger brother
Wick North Primary School will adopt a cohesive architectural relationship with its bigger brother

10 Comments

stw
#1 Posted by stw on 16 Jul 2014 at 14:50 PM
Interesting statement on the materials used, being someone naive I'd have thought that the use of these materials came from the fact that they're consistant with the materials used on other new Highland Council Schoools (see Ben Wyvis, Milton of Leys etc).
Andrew Marshall
#2 Posted by Andrew Marshall on 22 Jul 2014 at 13:22 PM
These are nicely considered schemes. As i understand it, emanating from a local authority driven, modern architectural approach to new schools.
Alex Dickson
#3 Posted by Alex Dickson on 1 Aug 2014 at 13:25 PM
Yes, both of these projects have been developed by the highland council architects. Much of the philosphy behind the buildings have come from our earlier work at milton of Leys and Ben wyvis primary. Ryder have been a strong partner in a very difficult procurement route (Scottish futures trust/Hubco). With both these projects and the new office rationalisation in the town, we are hoping to leave the town of Wick with a handful of quality modern buildings.

Andrew
#4 Posted by Andrew on 1 Aug 2014 at 15:11 PM
I'm sorry I don't understand, are these and other schools in wick designed by Highland Council and not Ryder?
Alex Dickson
#5 Posted by Alex Dickson on 1 Aug 2014 at 16:06 PM
The highland council architect service took both these projects to stage C, then the Hubco contractor team took them forward.
Andrew
#6 Posted by Andrew on 1 Aug 2014 at 17:09 PM
Why then is Ryder claiming design credit and giving design statements for both?
Zonko
#7 Posted by Zonko on 1 Aug 2014 at 23:25 PM
"Ryder have been a strong partner in a very difficult procurement route (Scottish futures trust/Hubco)" .........interesting Perspective
Neil C
#8 Posted by Neil C on 2 Aug 2014 at 11:16 AM
Weasel words, sounds like. Thought that work looked a bit more interesting than Ryders usual stuff. No wonder they want to take the credit
Debra the Zebra
#9 Posted by Debra the Zebra on 2 Aug 2014 at 13:22 PM
Before you know it they will be claiming they designed Boswell Mitchell Johnstone GM:AD Serious Crime Campus
urbanrealm
#10 Posted by urbanrealm on 2 Aug 2014 at 13:52 PM
This is our fault. I've updated the body to correctly apportion credit.

Full details here:
http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=MTOF9VIH7R000

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