ARPL Architects win third award for Colmonell Primary School design

Jan. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Ayrshire, Scotland, 7 January 2012--Colmonell Primary School has won another prestigious award, the Glasgow Institute of Architecture Gold Award, which acknowledges the innovative and unique design of the school.

The school previously scooped two silver awards in the annual Roses Design Awards for its iconic and outstanding design.

The £1.5 million eco-friendly primary school in Colmonell features a grass roof and environmentally friendly credentials. Built using sustainable building materials, high levels of insulation and low cost heating powered by air source heat pumps. – the new is proving to be a hit with pupils, staff and the local community.

The award went to ARPL Architects, who designed the school to accommodate 50 pupils in two composite classes and a nursery class for 10 children.  The school has spacious teaching area, a dining and sports hall, a central open area with a library and a variety of spaces for the staff.

South Ayrshire Council Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning Hywel Davies said:  “I am delighted that Colmonell Primary School has won such a prestigious award.

“We asked for a sustainable school that would serve the village into the future, and that is exactly what we got.

“The school has an innovative design which enables the children to learn in an environmentally friendly building which minimises energy use.  The interior space utilises natural daylight and ventilation, providing a healthy environment for the children.

“This school is an outstanding success, the pupils and staff enjoy learning and teaching there, parents and local residents are happy with it, it is everything that we planned for and more.

“The school is a credit to the architects, designers, builders and agencies involved in its creation, and thoroughly deserving of the plaudits received.

“Everyone who worked on creating this school created a rural school which meets all the educational needs of the children in an innovative way.

“For the school to receive a Glasgow Institute of Architecture Gold Award is truly outstanding, the pupils currently being educated there and generations to come will enjoy learning in this iconic building.”

Yvonne Templeton, Head Teacher of Colmonell Primary School said: “I am delighted that our school has won a Glasgow Institute of Architecture Gold Award.

“The pupils and staff really enjoy learning and interacting in such an innovative and unique school, it has made such a difference to us and the local community.”

Gordon Fleming, the director of ARPL Architects who designed the school, said: “We are delighted with winning a third award for Colmonell School. The recognition for the innovative design is a great compliment for our school work, and adds to the appreciation we have received from the village community and South Ayrshire Council.”

ARPL Architects Ltd

The directors of ARPL Architects Ltd are Patrick Lorimer, Robert Gilliland, Gordon Fleming, and Rebecca Cadie with John Ramsay, Stewart Glendinning and Kenneth Handley as associates.

The ARPL philosophy is to produce buildings to the highest design standards in close consultation with its clients. Designs are innovative and sympathetic to both the immediate and the broader environment in which they are constructed, with an emphasis on sustainability. Each project embraces the unique nature of the client’s needs and the site.

Over the 36 years since Patrick Lorimer established the original practice, ARPL’s status in the profession has grown steadily in line with its position as a medium-sized practice with a reputation for well executed projects. From its base in Ayr the practice carries out projects over a wide geographical area from the Orkneys and the Western Isles to Ireland.

The firm’s project experience covers the fields of housing, churches, schools, commercial projects, private houses, community and arts buildings. Particular expertise has been developed in contemporary sustainable design, specialist conservation works and design for historically sensitive environments.

ARPL’s work has received wide recognition through numerous design and environmental awards presented over the years for its new build and conservation works. Regular success in design competitions adds to the practice portfolio.

ARPL are currently working on new and refurbishment housing for Lochside, Ayr, several church and castle conservation and restoration projects and new community facilities in the South West of Scotland. Appointments for church commissions involve a range of denominations and projects from conservation and repair to extensions and new build. The firm is also involved in country houses and estates and the design of new houses for private owners.

The practice typically handles projects with construction values ranging from £100k through to £15m.

ARPL directors have managed to keep their business stable during the current difficult times, and have a busy current workload.

ARPL Architects Ltd
Architects and Quantity Surveyors
11 Wellington Square
Ayr KA7 1EN

Contact: Patrick Lorimer
Tel: 01292 289777
Fax: 01292 288896
E-mail: plorimer@arpl.co.uk
Web: http://www.arpl.co.uk

ARPL Architects is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

THE ELITE AYRSHIRE BUSINESS CIRCLE

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is an association founded in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire.

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial talent and business excellence that abounds here within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel, Turnberry Golf Resort and South Ayrshire Council. Member company activities include broadcasting, building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes is executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, and managing director is public relations consultancy Fame Publicity Services proprietor Murdoch MacDonald.

For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail eliteayrshire@gmail.com  

Website: http://www.eliteayrshire.com

Issued by:

Murdoch MacDonald
Fame Publicity Services
10 Miller Road
AYR, Ayrshire
Scotland KA7 2AY

E-mail FamePublicity@aol.com
Web: http://www.famepublicity.co.uk
http://www.AyrshireScotlandBusinessNews.com
Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833

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