Dollar Academy

Development of the external realm of privately funded schools is vital to their success in providing the best possible environment for their pupils to succeed. A master plan, prepared in 2009 with Page\Park Architects, gave structure to the future of development at Dollar Academy and allowed the school to determine a programme of projects to enrich their pupil’s education whilst responding to the historic nature of the school estate. Synthetic Hockey Pitch The grass pitch was replaced with a full synthetic playing surface with sports netting and a pedestrian link path from the main school building to the sports hall and MacGuire building. The surrounding building levels, gradient of the pitch and the protected mature Corsican pine ensured that the pitch design needed to be sympathetic yet robust enough to deal with its constraints. The pitch netting was detailed to ensure minimal visual impact on the listed Playfair building; no pitch lighting was permitted due to the Conservation Area location. Prep and Junior School Play Areas External play spaces for the Prep and Junior schools were unchallenging and bland; new play equipment, interesting planting, seating areas and sports provision now enriches the outdoor environment, setting physical and mental challenges that link with the school curriculum. Mylne Avenue, Main Gates Listed sandstone gates establish the transition into the school grounds, the existing broken asphalt and gravel surfacing did little to herald arrival into the school. Poor lighting and mixed pedestrian and vehicular movements made the area confusing and unsafe. Recent refurbishment of the gates, pillars and lamps is now supported by new stone setts paving and cast iron bollards, creating an appropriate but safe environment for children arriving and leaving school during pick-up and drop-off. Overhead power lines were buried as part of the project to simplify the view to the historic Playfair building.