Innovative architectural design is changing education, and Lime Tree Primary Academy in Manchester is paving the way
We’ve long known that beautiful surroundings can foster better learning. In grand old universities, monasteries and ancient academies, light, air, a spiritual atmosphere and minimal distraction typically enhance spaces designed for an elite pursuing a classical education.
But as learning has changed, so has the need for a new architectural approach. Lime Tree Primary Academy, an Atkins-designed forest school for 420 pupils in Greater Manchester, is widely recognised as a template for the future.
“We wanted to take the lid off the classroom,” says Philip Watson, 52, Atkins’ UK design director and head of education.
“The unique design of Lime Tree Academy reimagines the school. It has no corridors but is made up of a village of pavilions that interact with the external environment, enabling the Forest School ethos of outdoor teaching to be realised.
Via Miloš Bajčetić