The esteemed architects behind Cumnock’s multimillion pound superschool have come up trumps in the Scottish Design Awards 2021 after winning out in the Education Building or Project category.

Sheppard Robson were presented the award for their work on the Barony Campus which, as we know, comprises of five schools into one shared campus as well as playing fields and sports facilities and was completed as a project for East Ayrshire Council.

The 19.8-hectare site was recognised by those at Scottish Design Awards for its design which they commended as helping to ‘break down the overall mass of the building, minimising visual impact and giving each element of the school its own identity’.

Cumnock Chronicle:

With the school building playing host to primary and early education, dining and assembly, secondary and sport, it was also recognised for connecting ‘the different parts of the campus whilst maintaining an individual identity for each part’, ‘creating a sequence of connected spaces that students move through as they grow older and their abilities change’.

The fact that ‘sustainability was at the heart of the design from the outset’ was also noted.

Councillor Fiona Campbell, Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning, Education and Skills and Culture said: “I would like to congratulate architects Sheppard Robson, on behalf of East Ayrshire Council, for being awarded a Scottish Design Award (Architecture: Education Building or Project) for The Barony Campus; Scotland’s most innovative, ambitious and inclusive learning facility.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“The Barony Campus would not have been possible without a strong partnership between our delivery team, Sheppard Robson and contractor Morrison Construction.

“The Campus now belongs to our children and young people and to our communities. The facilities they enjoy, in all areas of learning - music, sport, STEM, the Arts - are exceptional, utilising the very latest technology including Scotland’s first interactive and immersive video room. Within Hillside School, in addition to specially designed classrooms there is a hydrotherapy pool, sensory room, soft play area and trampoline for rebound therapy, which is life changing for our children and young people.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“Community recreation space includes a community café, meeting rooms, a theatre space, enterprise kitchen for catering, recording studio, music practice rooms and project space for textiles/crafts and pottery.

“Bringing our children and young people into one Campus, provides better opportunities to learn and achieve. They are stronger together and will have every opportunity to achieve their full potential.”