Behind the façade of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 winner: Burntwood School

Burntwood School, a £41 million comprehensive for girls in South London, has been named as the winner of 2015’s RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best building.

Designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), who have previously had school projects shortlisted for the award, the building uses light to flood classrooms, creating a sense of space and a park-like feeling for the campus. The campus had originally been built in the 1950s, and the influence of that era on the design is clear; architect Paul Monaghan says that ‘it was our job to develop something that referenced the past while also looking forward.’

The magnificent school is the result of a 10 year collaboration between architects AHMM and the contractor Lend Lease, and shows the importance and award-winning potential of investing in the design of our schools.

One of the most striking elements of the campus is the deeply set, chamfered precast concrete panels which clad the exterior of the classroom block and give a Bauhaus, retro effect whilst retaining a clean contemporary feel. These sloping chamfered edges allow light to play across the buildings’ surfaces, and this has already inspired some students’ creativity.

The last time a school was awarded the Stirling Prize was Zaha Hadid’s Evelyn Grace Academy back in 2011, which we at Sotech are proud to have been a part of. We provided 1500m2 of our Optima Interlocking Pressed Plank rainscreen cladding for the Evelyn Grace Academy Project, contributing to the seamlessly flowing façade and highly functional spaces that lead to the school winning the award.

The training facility and showroom at Sotech is open to specifiers and contractors, where all of our Optima Rainscreen Systems are on display alongside the widest selection of materials and finishes, including pre and post coat aluminium, ACM, Copper, Zinc, Stainless Steel and Anodised.

Sotech has invested heavily in sophisticated design and manufacturing technology.

All Sotech Optima Rainscreen Systems have been independently tested to meet CWCT rigorous specification for rainscreen. Contact us today on 0191 587 9213 or technical@sotech-optima.co.uk to discuss your project.

(Quote from this article – http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/oct/15/burntwood-school-wins-2015-stirling-prize-and-offers-lessons-for-all ) 

(Images from Dezeen – http://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/15/riba-stirling-prize-2015-winner-architecture/)