Architects designing the new school and community campus in Neilston have picked up a national accolade for the creation of another school in the area.

BDP’s Glasgow studio won the contract earlier this year for the village’s joint campus, which will bring together Neilston and St Thomas’ primaries on one site, with the addition of Madras Family Centre. 

The firm, which is also behind the radical transformation of Glasgow’s Queen Street Station, previously designed Maidenhill Primary School and Nursery in Newton Mearns. 

The East Renfrewshire school is one of 14 new Scottish buildings named as winners of the national architecture awards by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

It sits in the heart of a new 800-house development and opened its doors to pupils in August 2019 with learning areas including cosy snugs, a birdhouse hideaway, and a larger auditorium, as well as an internal climbing wall for high energy activity.

Meanwhile, the circular early years facility features a central treetop snug for storytelling and open plan playrooms.

The £15 million development has been commended by RIAS for providing “a variety of flexible spaces for learning arranged around its central atrium ‘heart’.” 

It has also been recognised for the “restrained palette of colours” used which “creates a comforting background to learning, and a thoughtful relationship with the surrounding landscape which gives pupils space to explore.”

Other winners in the award include The Hill House Box in Helensburgh, built to protect the Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece from the elements, and a movable microhome on Skye.

Councillor Alan Lafferty, convener for Education and Equalities, said: “We are committed to providing the very best learning environments for all of our children and young people. 

“I’m delighted that the fantastic Maidenhill Primary has been recognised in these prestigious awards, highlighting the quality facility which has been delivered for this exciting new school community.”

East Renfrewshire politician Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, also welcomed the news and has submitted a Scottish Parliament motion recognising the achievement.

He added: “It’s excellent news that Maidenhill Primary School and Nursery has been recognised for the design of the building by receiving this well-deserved prize.

“The design of the building supports the education of young people and receiving this award is a strong endorsement that the layout of school can have a positive impact.”