Darwen Vale High School

Blackburn with Darwen

Designed by John McAslan and Partners.

Overall design quality rating: good

Comments:

The bold new extension contrasts well with the school’s traditional frontage to create a school building that responds to the educational aspirations and the site characteristics for the project. Legible pedestrian and vehicular arrivals routes are set to promote good use of the central entrance of the valued E-block. The tiered three storey extension, anchored by the sports hall, integrates well with the existing topography and incorporates a range of flexible external spaces for exercising and socialising. The ‘garden oasis’ offers practical space for project-based learning directly accessible from the ‘STEM’ accommodation. Internally, the egg-shaped hall has potential to be an exciting space at the heart of the school, although its design could better ease congestion at the main entrance for community use. Generous rooflights help bring daylight into the deep plan extension, but considered detailing will be required to ensure that the suspended ceilings, for example, also contribute to a high quality interior environment. Externally, the use of brick is appropriate for this site and for achieving a refined, curved building. The austere black elevations offset by the coloured bris soleil will require care to ensure an elegant, inspiring, and good value school building. Further attention should also be given to the substantial brown roof to ensure its inclusion as part of a comprehensive and sustainable learning environment.

Download the full report.