Springwood ASD School
Footprint Architects were appointed to design a scheme for the co-location of Springwood ASD School on the site of the existing Heathlands Primary School, in Bournemouth. Forming part of the Linwood School, the Springwood Campus caters exclusively for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD. The school was Bournemouth Borough Council’s first purpose built special school of this type and offers EYFS, primary, secondary and post 16 education provision.
People & Communities
The Springwood School Campus provides state of the art one-to-one therapy and immersive sensory facilities for up to 60 children with autism spectrum disorder. The school was Bournemouth Borough Council’s first purpose built special school of this type.
A State of the Art SEND Provision
The new school building was developed to enable pupils to maximise their potential within a safe and secure educational environment and features a range of state of the art facilities including:
- Quiet rooms
- Therapy suites, including one-to-one speech and language rooms
- Immersive sensory spaces with dimmable lighting and full blackout
- Interactive soft play rooms
- Secure outdoor breakout spaces
Maximising an Existing School Site
By carefully analysing the existing primary school, our education architects were successfully able to adapt the site to accommodate a new special school for up to 60 pupils with autism spectrum disorder, all with minimal impact. A considered fencing strategy ensures a safe and secure drop off for pupils, without disrupting or limiting access to the primary school.
A Calming Environment that Promotes Learning
Generous corridors with curved walls soften edges and safely guide pupils towards learning spaces. Whilst neutral colours and soft lighting reduces distractions and anxiety for those autism. Springwood ASD is a special school that was designed to be accessible for all, with doors made as wide as possible to offer inclusivity and future flexibility to meet chaining needs.
Classrooms are a generous size for future flexibility and all with large windows to provide lots of natural daylight and ventilation.
Access to nature is key to the development and welling of all children with autism spectrum disorder. Our architects successfully integrated external access directly from the each of the ground floor classrooms, promoting independence and allowing children to feel safe and secure as they play outside.
Sustainability
Lightweight modular construction reduced the requirement for extensive concrete foundations, reducing the embodied carbon.
Sustainable School Design
The use of modern methods of construction enabled the construction process to the carefully controlled within a factory environment. This not only reduced wastage, but allowed the the school building to be made more airtight, reducing cold draughts and heat loss. The lightweight modules reduced the need for heavy, carbon intensive concrete floors and extensive foundations, creating a school building with lower embodied carbon.
Using Modular Buildings for a Special School
The team utilised modern methods of construction MMC, opting for a modular school building that was prefabricated off-site. This approach enabled the new modular school building to be built in a factory and then installed on site within a much shorter space of time. This ensured minimal disruption to the operation of the existing primary school and the risk of adverse weather impacting the construction.
Context & Place
Our architects carefully analysed and reworked an existing primary school site to accommodate a new special school for early years through to post 16 pupils.
Relevant Projects
A vibrant Post 16 centre that promotes independence for young people with autism spectrum disorder ASD
Providing new opportunities in a specialist learning environment
Delivering bespoke special educational needs facilities for pupils with ASD and PMLD in under five months
Get Your Project Off The Ground
Get in touch today to kick-start your project. Let us know a few details and we’ll be in touch to discuss bringing your vision to life.
