Best of British Schools Awards Highlight HLM's Work

HLM has been shortlisted for Consultant of the Year in the BCSE Best of British Schools Awards 2012, organised the British Council for School Environments (BCSE). Three projects designed by HLM are also up for prizes in this year's ceremony.

Preston Manor Primary School in Brent, for which HLM was the architect, has been shortlisted for the Primary School Project Award. In the Secondary Projects category, two schools designed by HLM have made the shortlist: Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School in Bridgend, South Wales, and Brannel Performing Arts School in St Austell, Cornwall.

Preston Manor Primary, which opened in September 2011, is a £6 million, 460-place school with a BREEAM Excellent rating. The sustainability strategy includes extensive use of passive measures, such as passive ventilation and maximising natural light. The use of modern methods of construction further enhanced the project's green credentials.

Archbishop McGrath, which opened in September 2011, is a £20 million, 750-pupil school that addresses a very challenging site and has flexibility at the heart of its innovative design. This adaptability meets the school's requirements for flexible space to accommodate its wide range of activities, including an emphasis on the performing arts, and the need to ‘knit' the school into the local community. The school is rated BREEAM Excellent.

Brannel is a £17.2 million state-of-the-art school that provides teaching space for up to 750 pupils as well as a theatre, performing arts spaces and an outdoor amphitheatre. This scheme is also rated BREEAM Excellent and features ground source heating, solar water heating and green roofs. The school opened this year.

Caroline Buckingham, director and head of education at HLM, said: "It is fantastic to have our schools expertise highlighted once again in the BCSE Best of British Schools Awards. We are very proud of our work on the three schools that have been shortlisted for awards this year and to be shortlisted for Consultant of the Year is a great additional accolade."

The BCSE Best of British Schools Awards recognise the best in the business of designing and building education and learning environments. This year's results will be announced at the ceremony on 21 June.

Categories: Awards
Tags: Architecture | Landscape | Interiors