Kingsmead School

The new primary school at Leftwich, Northwich was designed by White Design Associates. The requirement to meet the brief was a 150 place, 7 classroom school with additional nursery facilities accommodated on the site.
The design intention was that the school should be an exemplar of sustainable design and construction. This ethos informs every aspect of the design from the its orientation on the site to the selection of natural materials and the use of natural ventilation and daylighting to the landscape concept.
The building has a strong visible structure which gives interest to the internal spaces and allows direct contact with this natural material.
The design of the building's roof aids natural ventilation through the structure. It allows rainwater to be harvested for use in flushing toilets and maintaining the landscape during periods of drought.
The north facing classroom design ensures classrooms receive consistent light levels whilst allowing controlled sunlight via rooflights. Each classroom has a winter garden with direct access to the play areas.
Each classroom has an uninterrupted view to green space, incorporating the sports field and naturally landscaped areas of the site. Adjacent to the classrooms are the playgrounds. The provision of safe pedestrian access and the provision of a secure cycle store encourages walking and cycling as part of the school's green travel plan.