Oatlands Junior School Extension – Harrogate
Oatlands Junior School
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Bowman Riley was commissioned to design a new extension building and reconfigure the layout of Oatlands Junior School, a large, popular school in Harrogate.
The layout of the 1960s school needed a fresh approach to improve the entrance and reception and to safeguard the pupils. The school building had multiple entry points, confusing navigation including the main hall used as a circulation route, a lack of security and a reception located in a corridor.
Bowman Riley designed a 120m2 infill building to provide a new entrance and reception area giving the school a sense of identity, a welcoming entry point for pupils, staff, parents and visitors for general use and school events. This places the reception at the heart of the school.
Our role involved the rationalisation of the school including improving the navigation around the school, controlling entry points and access to safeguard the pupils.
The main hall was removed from the circulation route and the dining facilities were improved to avoid disruption to the learning environment. We also enabled controlled access to the staff room and head teachers office.
This enabling project was formed part of the wider plans for the school and in 2015, Bowman Riley undertook a feasibility study for a new building to accommodate two new classrooms, WC, associated plant, a courtyard and a link corridor.