St Crispin's School

Location

Edinburgh

Main contractor

Longworth Building Service

Architects

City of Edinburgh Council

Products

Corium Brick Cladding

Facing Bricks

Overview

St Crispin’s is a non-denominational school in Edinburgh, which provides education for up to 72 pupils with additional support needs. Built on a brownfield site, the school was designed by architects at City of Edinburgh Council, who proposed materials that reflected the school’s location on the outskirts of the city, whilst aiding the sensory experience of pupils.

Taylor Maxwell worked with contractors Longworth Building Services to supply Corium brick cladding (manufactured by Wienerberger) and facing bricks to the site. Both materials were selected in colours which would positively contribute to the desired calming aesthetic of the build.

Concept to completion

The original school building was considered too small to be fit for purpose and after a feasibility study, it was decided that neither refurbishment of the existing building or rebuilding on the site were viable options. A new location was therefore proposed at a site two miles north of the existing build, which was once home to another primary school that was demolished back in 2010.

It was important to the architects that the project embraced all aspects of sustainability, considering not just the environmental impacts of the build, but also the social and economic. The materials chosen therefore needed to accommodate the sensory needs and comfort levels of the pupils, whilst offering environmental benefits that would contribute towards the site achieving a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating.

The architects opted for a simple yet high-quality material palette. Robust materials such as metal cladding and facing bricks were balanced with the more natural finish and texture of larch. The primary material used for the facade was a buff facing brick, which helped to give the building a bright and welcoming feel.

For the main entrance to the building, green glazed Corium brick cladding tiles were used to highlight the entranceway and create a calming environment. Alongside the green brick tiles, unfinished larch was used to clad large parts of the entranceway, as well as the soffits, to reinforce the transition from urban to rural at the site’s location on the outskirts of the city.

Together, the building materials used have created a calming environment for pupils and staff alike, focusing on the children’s needs. Completed in 2022, the school is now able to provide specialist education to over 70 students, as well as offering a behavioural support unit and swimming pool.

To find out more about Corium brick cladding, click here.

To find out more about facing bricks, click here.