Summerwood SEN College
Our education architects were challenged with redeveloping a former neglected day centre into a vibrant and welcoming space for young people with autism spectrum disorder ASD
Context & Place
Summerwood College saved a period building from being demolished and provides a vital new centre to support young people with ASD. The college shall provide a secure base from which the young people can reach out to meet their academic and personal aspirations. 24 students are enrolled at Summerwood on 1 – 3 year placements, and around 15 members of staff run the college on a daily basis.
Designing Stress Free Educational Spaces
Summerwood College is a Post 16 centre that supports young people with special education needs in developing independence as they transition into further and higher education, or full time employment.
Classroom sizes are intentionally modest, with high vaulted ceilings filled with natural daylight to provide somewhere that motivates learning. Supporting group and sensory rooms, relieve stress and anxiety, enabling students to have some time out. Whilst curved walls and neutral colours soften the edges, creating a calming and low stimulus environment.
Flexible Learning Spaces
The college building was designed with flexibility in mind, folding walls allow classrooms to be combined, enabling staff to promote and teach a varied range of activities and life skills. A small apartment setup allows students with special educational needs to develop independence and life skill in a safe and secure environment.
A small gabled extension was added to improve circulation and maximise teaching space. This enabled the young people to navigate around the college easily and without confusion. The design for this not only draws upon the gables and black timber frame of the existing period building, but the varied pitched roofs offer an opportunity to bring more natural daylight into the space. The result is a space that feels light, airy and safe to use.
A new games room offers a place for young people to have some downtime and develop social skills. Large glass doors flood the room with natural light and provide a connection with the peaceful outdoor courtyard.
Sustainablity
New efficient lighting and heating systems and improved building fabric has reduced operational energy demand for the college. A period building was saved from being demolished and now provides necessary education for ASD pupils.
Healthy Environments to Promote Wellbeing
Our education architects were conscious that to prepare young people for their future the building needed to not feel like a school. Walls are lined internally with birch plywood and timber battens to create a more sophisticated aesthetic. This natural finish offers a calming environment, helping students feel less anxious.
The neutral colour scheme provides a blank canvas to allow students a place to develop their own artwork, creating a sense of belonging and the chance to feel confident and comfortable within their surroundings.
Summerwood College successfully provides an uplifting and inclusive learning environment, supporting Post 16 students with special educational needs to achieve core academic qualifications and progress with their future.
People & Communities
Vaulted ceilings maximise the amount of daylight and ventilation to provide a comfortable and healthy learning space. The overall aim is to introduce a mature working environment to the ASD students in order to prepare them for university and or professional working life.
Relevant Projects
Award winning entrance pavilion & expansion of a grade II listed victorian school
The first purpose built special educational needs school of its kind in Bournemouth
Get Your Project Off The Ground
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