Project Spotlight : Northstowe Education Campus
Northstowe Learning Community

Project Spotlight : Northstowe Education Campus

?At Frank Shaw Associates, we believe in the power of education to transform communities. That’s why we’re particularly proud of our work on the Northstowe Education Campus, where we’ve been the Architect and Lead Consultant for this landmark project in Northstowe, Cambridge.

The Northstowe Education Campus is located in the heart of the town. It’s more than just a collection of buildings—it’s a central part of the town’s identity, bridging the Town Centre to the south with the Water Park and Cambridgeshire Guided Busway (CGB) to the north. Our design approach has been to create an open, welcoming environment that is seamlessly integrated into the wider community.

We’ve paid close attention to ensuring that the campus is visually distinct yet harmoniously blends with its surroundings. The public frontage along the Primary Street and School Squares was designed with large windows, doors, and clearly defined entrances, giving the buildings a welcoming and accessible appearance. This creates an inviting atmosphere that encourages community engagement while making a strong architectural statement.


Northstowe Learning Community

The Northstowe Education Campus houses a 12-form entry secondary school, a 110-place Special Educational Needs (SEN) school, and dual-use indoor sports facilities that serve both the school and the wider community. As the town grows, so does the campus. Our work didn’t stop with the initial phase. We’ve also designed and delivered further primary and secondary extensions as part of the ongoing Phase 2 and 3 developments.

In 2020, our efforts were recognised when the project won the Education Project of the Year at the Structural Timber Awards. This award is a testament to our commitment to excellence in educational design and our innovative use of materials.


Northstowe Learning Community


Northstowe Learning Community


Northstowe Learning Community Interior Corridor

The second phase of the Northstowe Education Campus includes a new 400-place Post-16 centre, an additional teaching wing for the secondary school, and a new 630-place primary school with early years provision. We’ve been working closely with key stakeholders—Meridian Trust, Cambridgeshire County Council, Homes England, and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning—to ensure that our designs align with their educational vision and the design code requirements. This phase continues the vision of providing all-through schooling from ages 0-19 within Northstowe.


CGI of view from SEN School towards Phase 2 Secondary Teaching Block and Post 16


CGI of Phase 2 Northstowe Post-16 Centre

A Commitment to Sustainability and Inclusivity

Our design for the Northstowe Education Campus has been guided by a strong commitment to sustainability and inclusivity.

An approach which provides opportunities to integrate mainstream and SEND pupils and enable students from both schools to access educational facilities that would not normally be available to them. The SEND School is designed for high and lower dependency pupils, with differing and diverse needs including pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and Pupils with Autism (ASD).

The SEND School was able to achieve the BREEAM Excellent rating, as well as being Net Zero in Operation through a variety of methodologies, including:

? Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) Construction – a modular method of construction which benefits from the reduced wastage due to manufacture under factory conditions. The embedded energy within CLT is vastly lower than traditional materials. It is also lighter than traditional materials allowing smaller foundations.

? ‘Enhanced’ Natural Ventilation – the building is naturally ventilated with elements of ‘enhanced’ natural ventilation to ensure that the over-heating criteria of TM52 is met adequately. The double height top lit circulation spine allows a natural stack effect to take place creating negative pressure at the bottom and ensuring continuous air flow. Air is discharged through large penthouse louvres at the top of the atrium.

? Efficient Window Design – the window design has a side ventilator with several operation modes. All of these modes are designed to provide rapid purge ventilation and cooling beyond compliance. The fenestration and rooflight design allow for 23 maximised daylight provision throughout the school and minimised reliance on artificial lighting.

? Renewables – photovoltaic cells provided on the flat roof concealed by the parapet.

? Biodiversity – biodiversity was used as part of the landscape scheme, with the planting of strategic green corridors linking in with the existing landscape.


Northstowe Martin Bacon Academy


Northstowe Martin Bacon Academy Hydrotherapy pool room


Northstowe Martin Bacon Academy Feature Entrance Doors

Looking to the Future

The forthcoming Northstowe Sixth Form College, set to open in September 2024, will expand opportunities for local students to continue their education close to home. This expansion includes a new primary school, a pre-school, and an extension of Northstowe Secondary College to accommodate up to 1,800 pupils.

At Frank Shaw Associates, we’re delighted to contribute to this vibrant community where education is at the heart of everything. Our work on the Northstowe Education Campus reflects our commitment to creating spaces that not only educate but also bring communities together, creating a brighter future for all.


Philip Atkinson

Director, Lanpro Services Ltd

2 个月

Great looking school!

Peter Jubb

Construction Business Development Consultant at Refraction Marketing. Chartered Marketer.Helping SME construction directors and partners, to develop and retain people to enable robust succession planning.

2 个月

Impressive scheme.

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