Arcadia Nursery, designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects, triumphed against competition from schools, playgrounds and other education projects. The nursery shared the top prize with Glasgow School of Art’s Reid Building.
The Scottish Design Awards judges praised Arcadia Nursery as a 'holistic response' to children’s needs.
It is great to see the nursery pick up this prestigious award, and gain recognition for its contemporary structure and architectural excellence.
Richard KingtonDirector, Accommodation Services
Pavilions design
Arcadia Nursery, at the King’s Buildings campus, is open to 110 children aged from six weeks to five years. It opened in August 2014, bringing together two previous nurseries into a single purpose-built facility.
The nursery comprises three distinct pavilions linked by a single-storey building, all constructed of cross-laminated timber, creating a calm environment.
There are large playrooms opening to landscaped gardens, mezzanine play areas, a children’s kitchen, art spaces and a music-and-dance room.
The nursery’s ecological credentials earned it a BREEAM Excellent rating at Design Stage. In March 2015 it won the Wood Award in the Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards.