KIRKLISTON NURSERY SCHOOL

Location: Kirkliston

Client: The City of Edinburgh Council

Programme: Completed 2014

Kirkliston Nursery School is an attractive Victorian building housing a busy and popular nursery. This small extension increases its capacity from 50 children to 70 and improve the working environment for staff.

The extension provides a staff room, office and children’s toilets, releasing space in the main building for new nursery classrooms and ensuring compliance with Care Inspectorate standards.

The curved and tapered form sets it apart as a contemporary addition while avoiding an existing window. The timber cladding, treated to preserve its natural colour and not turn grey, complements the original stonework but does not compete with it.

In addition to meeting the needs of the Nursery, the extension enhances the approach to the neighbouring Community Centre, replacing an unattractive rendered extension and adds a new integrated bench, hedge and planting.

Nursery staff enjoy improved facilities to plan activities and for the first time, there is a suitable place for staff to meet parents in private.

The Nursery remained operational during construction, and the works were planned to minimise the impact on its operations.