New-Bridge College is a modern, inclusive school that has been designed to match its integrated ethos and support a growing community of learners. We delivered a future-ready school with flexible classrooms and specialist spaces that give every student the tools and confidence to thrive. The new environment supports enriched learning, promotes sustainability and strengthens students’ connection to their community.
New-Bridge Integrated College
- Client: Ganson UK
- Location: Loughbrickland, Northern Ireland
Services
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Landscape architecture
A school shaped around community, connection and opportunity
The school needed more than a replacement building. The school required a modern, inclusive campus that reflected its integrated ethos and supported a growing community of learners. The existing site, made up of two ageing buildings and several temporary structures, limited how the school could deliver its curriculum and how students could explore extracurricular activities.
The Department of Education’s and New-Bridge’s ambition was clear: design a place that gives every young person the space, tools and confidence to succeed. The result is a flexible, welcoming and future-ready campus for 620 students.
The project was designed to RIBA stage 3 by AECOM, where we took over the project to complete the detailed design and delivery of the school.
The project was developed in line with the original tender specification, with careful reference to the DENI Handbook for Secondary Schools throughout the design process. The guidance provided a clear framework during Stages 4 and 5, supporting the detailed development of the scheme and helping to ensure all requirements were met with confidence.
By working closely to these standards, we were able to deliver a considered and coordinated design approach that balanced compliance with quality, creating an environment that responds to both functional needs and the wider aspirations of the school.
Social value
The new school was designed to strengthen New-Bridge’s role at the heart of its community. The layout supports the school’s integrated ethos by bringing people together in safe, inclusive and flexible spaces.
The new building gives students access to media rehearsal and recording rooms, high-quality sports facilities, and bright, calm teaching spaces. As well as fantastic facilities for our students, this new school will also be a fantastic resource available for use by the wider community.
These improvements create more opportunities for young people to explore their interests and develop new skills.
Sustainability
We’re on track to deliver a BREEAM Excellent school that performs efficiently and responsibly. The design uses a highly insulated building fabric, maximises natural daylight and integrates low-energy systems that reduce carbon and running costs.
Outside, the landscape supports biodiversity and creates outdoor learning spaces that enrich everyday school life. These sustainable choices make the campus resilient, cost-effective and aligned with environmental best practice.
New-Bridge Integrated College has been designed to provide an exceptional learning environment that meets the diverse needs of students, both academically and through extracurricular activities.
The site and phasing of this project present some challenges, but through our extensive experience delivering schools we have developed a scheme from stage 3 that supports and motivates a community of learners and provides them with the facilities they need to excel.
Richard Williams Architectural Technologist
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In focusInterior design
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Our interior design approach is rooted in a strong connection to place, taking inspiration from the local landscape to shape a welcoming and engaging environment.
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Simple, connected layout that supports learning
The building is arranged in three clear sections. Two teaching wings sit on either side of a central block that holds the entrance, dining space and library. This layout creates an intuitive journey through the school and gives students a strong sense of place.
The central hub acts as the social heart of the campus, supporting informal learning and connection throughout the day. Outside, improved access routes, new parking and a dedicated bus drop-off make movement across the site safe and straightforward.
The completed design is easy to navigate and creates a calm, supportive backdrop for learning.
A landscape for learning, wellbeing and community
The landscape design for New-Bridge creates a connected and inclusive campus that supports learning, recreation and community use. Responding to the site’s challenging topography and rural setting, the landscape establishes a series of accessible external spaces that integrate the new school building with sports facilities, social areas and the wider environment.
A key focus of the design was creating opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. Dedicated environmental learning spaces, including greenhouses and potting sheds, provide students with hands-on experiences in horticulture, sustainability and biodiversity, encouraging engagement with the natural environment and supporting the school’s wider educational ambitions.
Extensive sports provision, including grass pitches, synthetic playing surfaces and tennis courts, promotes health and wellbeing while enabling community use outside school hours. A network of pedestrian routes, gathering spaces and landscaped areas creates a safe and welcoming environment that encourages social interaction and outdoor activity throughout the campus.
New planting and habitat areas strengthen biodiversity and help integrate the development into the surrounding landscape, while carefully coordinated levels, access routes and drainage infrastructure ensure the site remains fully accessible despite significant changes in topography.
Delivered within a live school environment, the landscape played a critical role in transforming the campus into a modern, future-focused setting that supports education, wellbeing and community engagement for generations to come.
Maintaining learning during construction
A key achievement on this project was our ability to deliver a major new school on a constrained site while the existing campus remained operational. We developed a phased construction strategy that balanced progress with safety and continuity.
We set out clear circulation routes, planned demolition in stages and worked closely with Ganson UK, AECOM and the school leadership team to protect teaching throughout the build. This collaborative approach has minimised disruption and allows the students and staff to continue with the school day throughout the project.
