Education / Early proposals for new Brae school design revealed
POTENTIAL designs of a new Brae High School have been revealed as part of the latest round of public consultation on the project.
Proposals for the internal and external spaces have also been refined.
A second consultation event was held in Brae on Tuesday as part of the pre-planning phase.
With a planning application only expected to be submitted in early 2025, the images released in the consultation are proposals only.
Earlier this year councillors agreed to progress the new Brae High School project to a full business case stage.
The preferred option is new build, with previous estimates sitting at £42.5 million.
The Scottish Government is lined up to provide half of the funding, but over a 25-year period.
The preferred location for the new Brae High School is on the site of the current grass pitch, used by Delting FC, at the back of the existing school. There are plans to reinstate a pitch at the current school site once its replacement is built.
Designs shown in the latest round of consultation from Ryder Architecture include a red and dark finish with external walls proposed to be clad in vertically orientated metal.
“The site for a new Brae Campus acts as a backdrop to the settlement, so it is important that the new building has presence in the broader landscape,” exhibition information said.
“To this end, colour plays an important role, with the two main two storey barn forms of the school identified in red, evoking strong connections with local house typologies and highlighting them against the moorland when viewed from a distance.”
The single storey areas would be coloured in a dark finish to “downplay their prominence”.
Internally the use of timber was highlighted, as well as having large windows and “nooks” around the school to allow for more privacy and calmness, perhaps for small groups.
Unlike the current school set-up, the aim is to bring together all elements in one building, with a dining area for example proposed in the centre next to a sports hall.
Current plans also feature a number of break-out areas, science labs, a music studio, ‘quiet rooms’ and a library, amongst other spaces.
There are also proposals for community areas near to the entrance which could be accessed by the public both during school time and out of hours.
Shetland Islands Council’s timeline highlights that the school could potentially open in late 2027.
People can submit feedback on the current proposals, and find out more information, through this link.
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