St George’s Primary School

Appointed by Worcestershire County Council, Howl Associates were tasked with designing a replacement primary school on the existing St George’s School site. As a key part of learning at a young age, it is important to be engaged with the real world and learning about nature within the natural environment.

This connection with outside learning and bringing nature into the classroom was at the heart of the design brief for Howl Associates. As a result, their design vision placed strong emphasis on communal spaces rich in natural light and closely linked to the surrounding forest schools. Rooflights were integral to this vision.

The design included a focal courtyard area as a central space for parents, children and teachers to engage with each other during collection times, integrating parents into the school community. During the school day the courtyard becomes a secure space for students to learn and develop. In a site where space was tight, this courtyard provides a valuable extension to the outside, to natural light and serves to connect the whole school community.

The Rooflight Co were approached by Howl Architects during RIBA Stage three of the project with a detailed roof plan. Our Bespoke Design team worked closely with the architects to create a tailored solution that accommodated both the specific sizing and placement requirements. With vertical glazing a dominant feature in the corridor also, the final effect of the bespoke Conservation Plateau Rooflights is one of light, space and a connection to the world outside.

One of the core themes of this project was to create a bright and welcoming space where the young pupils can thrive. An abundance of natural light was integral to creating that positive learning environment.

The inclusion of our rooflights ensures classrooms and communal areas benefit from as much natural daylight as possible. The design of the bespoke rooflights features a virtually frameless appearance, so when a child looks up it is as though nothing separates them from the sky.

A show-stopping bank of rooflights runs the full length of a corridor, with glazing extending almost wall to wall. To create this dramatic visual channel of light, our design team created a bespoke solution based on the Conservation Plateau Rooflight. The system consisted of four individual glazing frames fixed to two steel base structures, using our unique linking design to minimise support frame dimensions and maximise viewable glass.

Seven sets of fixed units were supplied using our recommended glazing specification of a 6.4mm laminated inner pane, meeting recognised Rooflight Association safety standards for public buildings.

Throughout the design process, The Rooflight Co coordinated closely with the architects, roofers and construction team, producing site-specific technical drawings and ensuring the installation ran smoothly, particularly at the complex junctions between rooflights, box guttering and abutting walls.

Hand-assembled in our Cotswolds studio, the bespoke rooflights were constructed from high-quality materials to meet both the aesthetic brief and the technical performance requirements. The abundance of natural light and the strong visual rhythm it creates underpin the project’s goal: to provide a learning environment that inspires curiosity, creativity and connection with the outdoors.

St George’s School was recognised for its innovative and uplifting design with a RIBA West Midlands Award in 2013.

Awards

• RIBA West Midlands Award 2013