d-on architects ltd won the following awards for John Paul II Primary School: RICS Community Benefit Award William Keown Trust Access Award d-on architects ltd acted as Design Team leaders for a multi-disciplinary team made up of Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, M&E Engineers & Acoustic Consultant for the new build classroom block at John Paul II Primary School, Belfast. The works were carried out in 3 phases on a live school site which included the design of a new build classroom block and refurbishment of areas of the existing school. The brief called for a 4 classroom new building block with resource area, stores, toilets / cloaks, ancillary accommodation, etc. We led the Pre-Application Discussions with the Planning Authority and co-ordinated the Planning Application securing approval for the new classroom block. We led consultations with key stakeholders and public consultations with the wider community. As the works were to be delivered on a live school environment, careful and detailed collaboration took place between the school board, principal, key members of staff and d-on architects to devise a strategy for undertaking the works and maintain a safe environment. Discussions included siting of new blocks, access, risk of disruption to the school, levels of noise and dust, timings of start and completion dates and availability of holiday periods for undertaking and disruptive work sequences. d-on architects prepared phasing plans agreed with all parties. We co-ordinated design information & Stage Reports to the Department of Education. We co-ordinated the Design Team developing RIBA Stage 4 on BIM level 2. We co-ordinated the Building Control application securing Building Control Plan Approval. The project was traditional procurement under the NEC Contract. We attended site progress meetings to co-ordinate technical information with the contractor team. Even though this project was small in size it had the potential to make a significant positive impact on the school lives of the children. Our aim was to create an environment that was very different from what the children experienced in their everyday lives in their community. When they arrive in the school campus they are taken into a new environment of respect, tolerance and understanding. We wanted to create a vessel to allow this environment to flourish and for the building to be part of the education process. This was recognised in the RICS awards where the building won the Community Benefit Award. The site for the new building sits in an area overlooked by the existing two storey classroom blocks formed in an L-shape. The sloping nature of the site means the new block will always be lower than the surrounding buildings. The concept was to lift the ground up to form the ‘shelter’ for the new building supported at each corner by circular columns. This raised landscape would be overlooked by the surrounding classrooms and provide a green space that changed with the seasons. Beneath the ‘shelter’, timber boxes were placed. These timber boxes housed the classroom spaces. The central part of the raised landscape was carved out to create a lightwell allowing natural light to spill into the social / resource area. The resource area is filled with natural light so that even on a grey overcast day it is a welcoming space and a space where where you want to spend time. External materials were brought into the resource area such as brick for the walls with the perpends left clear to create Helmholtz Resonators. Acoustic treatment was also carried through to the classrooms with perforated plasterboard to soften the acoustic environment. The landscape roof extends past the external walls to create shelter on this elevated and exposed site. The doors into the children’s cloaks area are beneath the large overhanging eaves which provides protection for when the children line up in the morning before entering their classrooms. Parents also make use of the shelter provided by the overhanging eaves when collecting their children on a rainy day. The sedum roof has now established well and started to flower, attracting insects which in turn attracts birds. A number of bird boxes have been installed around the school grounds which are being taken up by local wildlife, bringing nature and the importance of nature into the children’s everyday learning and life.