Killean Primary School
As a neighboring pavilion, the multi-purpose hall can be used as either a separate entity from the school for local community events or as a day-to-day activity space for the pupils of the school. Its agricultural character is inspired by the rural landscape surrounding it. Humble materials are inherited from its context such as the curved aluminium sheet roof and timber facades. A number of community meetings were held in order for the brief to be successfully developed and implemented.
The site of Killean Primary School sits only a few hundred meters from the Irish border in Northern Ireland amongst the quiet rural landscape. An increase in numbers of pupils created a demand for more space, particularly for a new large multi-purpose hall. A number of meetings were held with key members and representatives from the community in order to develop a coherent brief that would address all of their needs and aspirations. Important aspects such as access, safety and maintenance were brought up and sought to be addressed in the design development stages.
Since the initial design stages, the main volume of the multi-purpose hall was imagined as a separate entity from the rest of the existing school. This meant that the facilities could be utilized in a much more flexible way, for example, local community groups could use the space as an independent venue for an event during term time without disrupting the teachers or pupils. The hall even has its own integrated lighting and sound system that enables it to become a community cinema space if required. The multi-purpose hall's volume was inspired by the surrounding agricultural landscape with its industrial-sized metal clad sheds. Its shiny, curved form sits quietly above the existing school, subtly settling into its idyllic context. The materiality of the multi-purpose hall was influenced by its humble agricultural neighbors - a heavy base of engineering brick forms a plinth which grounds the multi-purpose hall on its sloping site. A covering of Siberian larch timber surrounds the elevations, giving it a warmth at ground level that will eventually weather and fade to match the curved aluminium roof above. This simple palette of materials addressed the need for a reduction in maintenance costs associated with the upkeep of the schools' buildings. On the inside, the interior of the main hall is designed to be more robust than a standard gym space. This was achieved by placing timber studs within the walls at closer centers. Therefore, the wall can withstand more forces from intense gym sessions held in the hall.
In terms of responsible use encouragement, the school is designed to have as little maintenance work as possible in order for school funds to be saved for other needs of the pupils and staff. The school itself also acts as an educational piece in the pupils lives as bird and bat boxes were installed around the site. This was not only to educate the children, but to enhance the ecological environment of the school post-completion. All flat roof areas of the new build are finished with a green roof to attract more wildlife to the area and support the local ecosystem. Lights within the new build have integrated motion detectors and use LEDs to save energy. By increasing the insulation of the existing school on the site, there was a significant reduction in heat loss and therefore the existing boiler was under less pressure than before and could be retained.
The scheme has been in use by the pupils and teachers of Killean Primary School as well as local community groups and nursery. All feedback has been positive since moving into the new space and it has allowed the improvement of services already given to the local community by the teachers and staff. The project was greatly welcomed by the principal who encouraged the commitment in investing in the youth of the area. The new addition will continue to provide a flexible space for school performances and local community gatherings. Its ability to age gracefully within its rural landscape will secure its future as a key area of education for the local community.
