Thinking Buildings were commissioned by the Diocese of Oxford and Oxfordshire County Council to significantly expand the existing Adderbury village primary school, from a single form entry per year to a 1.5 form entry, including a new early years unit with nursery provision.
The design solution included a fantastic new Foundation Stage building with improved shared teaching facilities, a larger school hall and a further extension to accommodate additional Key Stage 2 classrooms, staff room and other supporting accommodation. A key design aim was to introduce vibrancy, colour and sense of playfulness in the design of the new buildings. Externally, coloured striped cladding was interspersed within the timber cladding and panels of brightly coloured cladding were introduced to contrast beautifully with the crisp white rendered. External windows were placed to provide views out for both small children and adults. Internally, strong colours were used for the carpets, flooring, wall surfaces and toilet cubicles.
The project also greatly improved the school’s existing accommodation with a new full production kitchen, staff areas and group rooms were remodelled and refurbished and a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and play surface was provided to deliver year round use.
Given the nature of the constrained site, the project was constructed in 3 sequential phases of work with completion in April 2018. The main contractor Edgar Taylor expertly managed the sequence of works, making sure the school was informed and on board for each stage. This was an excellent example of how to deliver a project with complex logistics and constraints.
