Our new £18 million community hub in Newmains has been named top of the class at this year's Scottish Design Awards 2023.
The hub came top spot in the Education Building or Project category and taking home the highly prestigious Grand Prix in Architecture award.
Architects BDP were presented the award for their work on Newmains & St Brigid’s Community Hub. Designed to be environmentally and energy efficient and home to more than 500 children and staff, the campus comprises two schools and a family learning centre into one shared campus as well as playing fields and sports facilities.
Hub South West Scotland delivered this award-winning project on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council with BAM Construction as their construction partner. BDP led the wider design team, consisting of Wallace Whittle (mechanical and electrical design engineers) and Blyth and Blyth (consulting civil and structural design engineers).
Scottish Design Award judges were highly impressed by the many design features to promote both passive and active learning. At the heart of the new building is a multi-use area featuring large wooden steps looking down on the stage. From here children can access the indoor slide which opens to a large hall for assemblies, sports and other events. There is also a reflection zone, to allow small groups or peer-to-peer learning or to provide quieter space.
Councillor Angela Campbell, Convener of Education, Families and Children, said: “The new hub is a wonderful asset for the entire community to enjoy - it's a shining example of the vision and ambition we have for communities across North Lanarkshire. It is far more than just a school, it’s a community facility in the truest sense.
“I'd like to congratulate everyone involved in the design and construction of the hub on winning this much-deserved national award."
With a firm focus on outdoor space, the campus is home to an 11-a-side outdoor sports pitch, extensive outdoor play areas and new paths to connect the community. Each teaching wing has covered external space and a sensory garden. A forest school has been planted with willow structures, an outdoor classroom, a fire pit and den building zone.
The state-of-the-art campus also includes a first-ever dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) themed classroom, a dedicated breastfeeding area as part of the council’s initiative to encourage more mums to breastfeed, EV charging for electric vehicles and bike storage to encourage active travel.