Cowbridge Comprehensive School

HLM's masterplan for Cowbridge Comprehensive School in the Vale of Glamorgan involved the co-location of two sites to form a campus for 1,550 pupils. The school is an excellent example of how a council's vision for education can be realised; in an efficient and a sustainable manner.

A new three-storey building forms the heart of the school and the other buildings on the site have been refurbished to provide an art block, teaching blocks, a dining hall and sixth form block. Internally, there are flexible learning spaces, from fully equipped laboratories, sports hall and fitness studio to a state-of-the-art main hall. A comprehensive landscape design has also been undertaken.

Together, the new build and refurbished elements of the school have created a wholly integrated, contemporary and visually stimulating campus which accommodates the needs of the pupils and teachers as well as the local community. Martin Lipson, Programme Director for 21st Century Schools (WLGA), praised the school for focusing "on the external environment of the school and on improving community use", adding that it was an "example of how school investment in Wales should go".

Awards: BREEAM Excellent