This extension to Bessemer Grange Primary School provided a children’s centre, nursery and reception year classrooms. The brief included new entrances to the existing school with the overall aim to revitalise the original 1950s buildings. As a result, the striking new building sits prominently on the street, advertising the new and exciting developments at the school.
The building was an early use of the innovative cross laminated timber construction in the UK. This alone sequestered more than 65 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and the principle of sequestration was extended to all other elements of the building to minimise the building’s impact on the environment.
The project was undertaken by Ian Hayton as lead architect through design and production stages whilst at Architype Architects. Photographs are by James Harris. The project successfully revitalised the school and Ian returned to expand the school with a second phase.
