School Building Award

Presented to the establishment that has provided what is judged to be the most technically advanced building constructed for the purpose of a teaching present and future pupils.

2009 Winner: St. Mary Magdalene Academy, London

The St Mary Magdalene Academy is a new co-educational academy for 1,400 students from early years through to sixth form in Islington, London. With a total cost of over 30 million, the school comprises of an Early Years Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, and contains a state of the art ICT facility.

The project involved the demolition of existing buildings with the school remaining operational throughout. The first phase was handed over in September 2007, with final completion in October 2008.

Planning had to be submitted twice due to objections, as there was a strong feeling from local residents that a school of this size was too big for the site, which is an L-shape, with a frontage on four streets. Architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios created a timber clad facade inscribed with an Ichthus pattern (an abstract fish symbol of Christian faith). This is visible only when the sun shines on the facade from a certain angle.

The facades have been very carefully designed, featuring external shading, which keeps the sun off the majority of the classrooms. Sustainability was a major consideration, and in addition to biomass boilers, photo voltaic cells and highly sustainable cladding and curtain walling, the new school is naturally ventilated to ensure the minimum carbon footprint.

This new academy plays an important role in the local community, with a range of new facilities shared by pupils and the wider public.

Commended:

The Minster School, Nottingham
Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
Cedar Mount School, Manchester