Following the major architectural and operational success of the first phase of the Kirkintilloch Learning Centre, the entire design team has been appointed to extend the original building by doubling its overall floor area – this time over three floors.
Richard Murphy Architects, supported by Atkins Structure and Atkins Services, gained planning consent in the Summer of 2005 and submitted the building warrant application in December 2005.
The extension continues the use of the original section which positions two storeys of classrooms/office space to the south and a double-height galleried ‘open-resource’ and café space to the north, facing the canal. By making use of the steep bankside section, the extended building will further provide a canal-facing crèche with exterior play area at the lowest level.
The construction of the extension to the north-east of the existing building ensures that the entrance (previously to one end of the linear plan) is now positioned in the centre of the new whole. A new reception will orientate the visitor and first time student within the main double-height space, allowing a clear reading of the building to be made with the majority of the classrooms and computer resource space to the left and the café and other administration offices to the right. A void behind the reception, through which the stair descends past a seated area which protrudes out over the canal, makes connection to the lowest level which houses the crèche and (in a future phase) a second computer resource space.
The visual continuity of the roof planes, the treatment of the elevations and the consistent use of materials and details will ensure that this project, once complete, will read as a new whole whilst the more stringent demands of information technology servicing, inclusive access provision and thermal and environmental regulations are accommodated and surpassed.
The Forth-Clyde canal bank will once again be extensively replanted following the completion of the extension to ensure that the existing wildlife corridor is continued and enhanced as it approaches Kirkintilloch town centre.
The project is currently on site and will be complete in October 2008.
Link to Kirkintilloch Learning Centre - Phase I
| Architects | Richard Murphy, Bill Black, David McPeak, David Stronge |
| Engineers | Atkins |
| M&E Engineers | Atkins |
| Quantity Surveyor | Allen and Hanel |
| Planning Supervisor | Allen and Hanel |
| Construction Cost | Estimated Construction Cost: £3.35m |
| Client | Strathkelvin Development Company |
