A £900,000 project to refurbish Musselburgh Grammar School has been shortlisted for a Learning Places Scotland Award 2022.
The project has created a better, more inspiring space that can also be used for learning
The project to refurbish the social and dining spaces was undertaken to take account of the increasing school roll brought about by growth within the area. Architecture and Design Scotland carried out a consultation on behalf of East Lothian Council to determine the requirements for the spaces. Along with new toilet facilities, the size of the dining and social area have been almost doubled following the refurbishment.
The revamped multi-functional space benefits from a new ceiling, lighting, decoration and flooring. Large screens and improved Wi-Fi have been installed along with new furniture creating a versatile space for dining, socialising and learning with options of informal teaching or group working.
The Musselburgh Grammar School refurbishment programme is shortlisted in the Innovation in Delivering a Sustainable Learning Space Award category alongside Fife College's Learning and Innovation Hubs and Levenmouth Academy, Heriot Watt University’s Dubai campus, Learning and Teaching Project at University of Strathclyde, and Aberdeen City Council's Duthie Park Nursery.
Sharing best practice
The awards are the climax of a national two-day conference and exhibition run by Learning Places Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government. It focuses on sharing best practice the design, funding, build and maintenance of the education estate from early years to higher and further education. The team working on the new Wallyford Secondary Learning Campus will present the project on day one of the conference covering the covering the partnership with Edinburgh College to co-locate further education within the building to offer improved employability pathways, outdoor learning opportunities and the establishment of a Regional Construction Skills Academy.
Commenting on Musselburgh Grammar project’s nomination, Cabinet member for Education, Families and Children’s Services Councillor Fiona Dugdale said: “All of the teams and contractors involved in this project worked hard to deliver spaces that would benefit the entire Musselburgh Grammar School community. The new social area is already proving popular with young people and the project has created a better, more inspiring space that can also be used for learning. I am delighted that the team’s efforts are being nationally recognised in this way.”