The current Pimperne Primary School provides insufficient permanent accommodation for the number of children on the roll, relying on a number of pre-fabricated buildings to provide the required teaching capacity. With inadequate space to extend on the existing site, Dorset County Council has acquired a four and a half acre site on the edge of the village for a new circa 13,000 sq ft single-storey school, which ISG is set to hand over in spring 2015.
Developing an initial design from Terence O’Rourke Ltd, the new steel framed school building has been progressed by Dorset Property, part of the council, in collaboration with Children’s Services, the school, ISG and Roughton Structural Engineers. Sat within an area of outstanding natural beauty, the design responds to its specific location, within a carefully considered landscape to meet the school’s curriculum needs. Locally-sourced materials including flint and larch cladding feature in the school design, whilst high and low level glazing provides excellent natural daylight and ventilation within classrooms. Sustainable measures include a green sedum roof and photovoltaic panels will supplement the school’s electrical demands.