Our cities are facing challenges in how to accommodate an increasing population. More school places are needed than ever before but land is in short supply and funding can be limited. In response to this, Scott Brownrigg’s Director of Practice Helen Taylor and The Learning Crowd’s Senior Associate Sharon Wright united to co-author ‘Urban Schools: Designing for High Density’, published by RIBA Publishing in January 2020. Scott Brownrigg and The Learning Crowd have now been shortlisted for the AJ100 Collaboration of the Year Award.

The AJ100 survey is the definitive record of the UK’s largest architecture practices and recognises and rewards achievements made by these firms each year. The Collaboration of the Year Award is awarded to the most successful collaboration on a project or initiative over the past 12 months. In shortlisting projects, the AJ100 seek to identify projects that make significant strides or add value. Taylor and Wright’s ‘Urban Schools’ explores the design of schools in urban settings, and offers a vital insight into what the new typology of a city school might be.

A series of experts were invited to examine how we view the issues of delivering education within the city. Case studies from around the world and historic examples add further reinforcement to the expert examinations. The resulting publication is an invaluable resource for educators, designers and policy makers as they look for new ways to tackle the challenges ahead.

“Our intent is to share the successes and help the education design world learn the key lessons to enable them to deliver new solutions that meet the needs of children now and in the future. In doing so we have identified the opportunities and challenges for integrating these new approaches into the city.”

Helen Taylor, Director of Practice

The winners of all this year’s AJ100 awards will be announced in September.

‘Urban Schools: Designing for High Density’ can be ordered from the RIBA Bookshop. 

The authors also presented a webinar on the same topic, sharing their insight and answering questions. This is available to watch on demand here.