North Leamington School in Warwickshire Adds Outdoor Canopy

What was the project brief?

North Leamington School in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, wanted an outdoor shelter to make a statement in their grounds and provide new opportunities for dining, teaching and more outside – no matter the weather. The staff were after something with a classic, uncomplicated look that was large enough to make cramped facilities a thing of the past, and heating to make sitting under the canopy in winter as pleasant an experience as in summer. They preferred our shelter designs to those of other companies, so they approached us with their plans.

What was our canopy solution?

North Leamington School shared their thoughts and ideas with us, and we gave them our expert opinion on which products would best fit their project. They settled on our Motiva Duo™, a duopitch curved model with a symmetric design that suits standalone structures like the one this institution needed. We built it to large specifications of 14000mm X 10000mm, so students from many classes could spend time there at once – whether they were eating lunch, playing games or relaxing with friends. The simple Opal roof and Anthracite Grey steelwork worked seamlessly with the modern feel of the school, and the addition of heating meant that the structure wouldn’t become unused in cold snaps.

What was the result of the shelter?

The outdoor canopy has become a much-loved part of the grounds at North Leamington School. Students and staff alike can enjoy it throughout the year, thanks to the heating, and it can adapt to their needs. In the morning it could be used as an outdoor classroom shelter, before being turned into a helpful dining canopy at lunchtime where everyone can relax and refuel while enjoying some fresh air. The substantial canopy is a prominent and attractive feature of the outdoor facilities, where children can enjoy a little more elbow room, even if it’s raining. We were thrilled that this project went so well, and we hope that our product will be of great benefit to both new arrivals and the current community at this institution.

About the client

North Leamington School is a mixed comprehensive for students aged from 11 to 18. Its values of Commitment, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence are reflected in everything it does. It has fantastic facilities based on the look of a university campus – including a Sixth Form Centre, sports centre and 315-seat theatre – which are much-used by the surrounding community. It was wonderful to work with an institution that is so dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of its students, as well as their academic success.

This institution is located in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Some of the town’s most interesting attractions include the Royal Pump Room and Baths – now home to the Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, although they were used by many people in the past who travelled there to benefit from the reputedly healing waters. Also, Jephson Gardens provide welcome opportunities to relax outdoors and there is lots of Regency architecture to admire.

How can shelters expand school provision?

The population of school-age children is ever-growing and this can put pressure on institutions to build on their facilities to account for increased numbers of students. This can present a problem to those with limited budgets and resources but, thankfully, canopies are here to help. They can be used as outdoor dining areas to offer more space for children to relax between lessons, and outdoor classrooms which remove the need for expensive new buildings and can help everyone get outside more often and even diversify the curriculum. A higher number of students can affect traffic in the area and result in parking issues and disgruntled local people, but cycle stores can reduce the impact of this by encouraging cycle usage over cars. What’s more, outdoor sports multi-use games areas like a tennis court canopy can provide room for every child to access exercise in a fun and educational way.

Do you want to hear more about how our canopies can allow your institution to thrive with a larger student population? Give us a call on 01743 444100 and we can advise you further.

How has A&S Landscape changed over time?

We launched over forty years ago in 1976 as a family business with a father and son team. We established relationships with local schools, authorities and builders across the region in Shropshire and the West Midlands and, over the next decades, branched out into new locations and honed our focus. Now a European-wide designer, manufacturer and installer of all manner of covered area solutions, we have great ambitions to continue developing our products in our ever-changing market and expand our growing client list. Email us at [email protected] to speak to our team and discover more about A&S Landscape.