Following the completion in 2022 of a new sports pavilion, Trinity Academy Sports Campus, this second phase will include the refurbishment of the existing Victorian 1890s Schoolhouse and a large new build Passivhaus extension to provide contemporary teaching facilities for Trinity Academy Secondary School.

The project emerged following detailed community engagement, carried out with Architecture & Design Scotland, which highlighted the importance that the original B-Listed 1890s schoolhouse had to the local community and school as well as the need for new replacement facilities for the 1960s school building. The original B-Listed building was key to the identity of the school, leading to the retention and refurbishment to improve pedagogy, thermal and energy requirements to make the building suitable for contemporary teaching and climate goals. The new build extension is designed to be Passivhaus to provide optimum thermal, energy and comfort requirements.

Educationally the new extension provides a central ‘heart’ around a main atrium which has flexible learning spaces adjacent to create a community feel to the school. Around 20% of all teaching space is designed as ‘flexible’ enabling self-directed learning, group collaboration and cross curriculum teaching to take place. Inclusivity has also been key to the design with enhanced support provision and quite spaces provided throughout the plan to allow pupils with additional needs to be part of mainstream education.

The development of a new Trinity Academy Campus is a complex project, but it is an example of how community engagement can inform the design process to both identify and address local needs. Holmes Miller’s sustainability charter has led us to challenge decision and promote reuse and Passivhaus standards to create a resilient campus of buildings for Trinity Academy’s future.