The practice's redevelopment of Darwen Vale High School has created a new campus for the 1200-place community school, sensitively merging the existing grammar school with a new 8,000sqm contemporary building.

The new three-storey structure is located behind the original 1930s grammar school building and was conceived as a bold, fluid form, that partially wraps around the existing structure. By demolishing a group of tired buildings and replacing them with this new structure, the school has consolidated its building stock, bringing together a previously disparate campus.

The retention of the 1930s E-shaped school building, now the only significant surviving inter-war building in Darwen, is an important part of the scheme. The grammar school frontage continues to dominate the site, representing Darwen Vale’s continuous history of excellence in education. Important spaces in this high quality building, such as the library, have been retained as part of the new scheme.

Key to the design’s success is transforming the way that pupils learn. A new typology has been driven by Blackburn with Darwen Local Education Authority’s desire for cross-curricular and group-based learning. The new school building is divided into four learning environments: STEM (Science, Technology and Engineering), TEAM (English and Maths), Create (Art, Music & P.E.) and Communicate (Languages, History, Geography and R.E.).

The landscape design was conceived in close consultation with the school and pupils to create high quality external teaching areas tailored to the needs of each learning environment. For example, a hands-on, outside area next to STEM provides opportunities for outdoor experimentation, whilst outdoor performances can take place in the amphitheatre next to Communicate.

Sustainability was at the heart of the project, which has achieved a BREEAM “Excellent” score and a significantly low carbon emissions output. In recognition of the school’s engineering specialism, the design encompasses a wide variety of environmental criteria, including a wind turbine and biomass boiler to regenerate energy. The landscape and building roofs contains a number of habitat areas that promote biodiversity; allotments and bee hives give students and members of the community the opportunity to produce their own food.

JMP’s design incorporates new sports facilities, including a fitness suite, sports hall and upgraded pitches and courts. These facilities will be open to the public outside school hours, building on the school’s already strong community cohesion.