Children's BBC star opens school's new eco-friendly art studio

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CBBC presenter Mark Speight, from the children's TV art show Smart, opened an eco-friendly art studio at Wormholt Park Primary School last Wednesday, 25th January 2006.

The new building features natural ground source heating and a roof covered by an Alpine plant called sedum, which provides insulation, soaks up water and keeps the building cool in the summer. It also provides a habitat for insects and birds.

Four clear domes in the roof and large sliding French doors let in plenty of light. The single-storey building, designed by architects Murphy Davé, has a main art room, art therapy room and teachers' preparation room. It is equipped for drawing, painting and three-dimensional artwork. The outside of the timber-framed building is clad in sustainable red cedar wood.

The art studio has been built on the site of a disused toilet block and the £220,000 cost of the project was funded with about £100,000 from the school, £80,000 from the council and grants of £20,000 each from the Foyle Foundation and John Lyon's Charity.

Gussie Andersen, headteacher of Wormholt Park Primary School, said: "As headteacher at the school for 14 years, I have been a keen supporter of all the arts and especially visual art. The new art space has enabled us to introduce a more flexible, creative curriculum to the school. We worked closely with architects Murphy Davé, who came up with this fabulous design and saw the project through to completion. Every child can succeed in art, regardless of their special educational needs or whether they are just starting to learn English. Even the most troubled child will glow when they start to paint and create. It is particularly vital for children who never have the chance to do so at home."

CBBC Smart presenter Mark Speight said: "It's so important for children to be involved in art as it's a great way for them to express themselves creatively."

Architect Martin Murphy said: "We wanted the art studio to be a very creative space with lots of natural light and, being detached from the main school, it is a calm oasis away from the bustle of the main block. The ground source heating, which uses a pump to send water into the earth to gather heat, is extremely cost effective and children can learn at first hand the benefits of sustainable energy."

The borough's mayor, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, who attended the opening, said: "This is a fantastic building, which will help bring out the creative spirit in pupils and staff and raise children's self-esteem and achievement. The eco-friendly design also contributes to our efforts to make this a cleaner, greener borough so we were happy to support this exciting project. I would like to congratulate the school and architect for having the vision to make it happen as well as the two charities which contributed to the cost."

January 29, 2006