St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Derby

2025 RIBA East Midlands Award 
2025 RIBA East Midlands Project Architect of the Year David Brook
2025 RIBA East Midlands Sustainability Award sponsored by Autodesk

St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Derby
Hawkins\Brown for Department for Education

Contract value: Confidential
GIA: 2,316 m²

St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy emerges as a thoughtful response to both the practical needs of a modern primary school and the sustainable principles driving its development. Following the destruction of the previous school building by fire, the new design embraces the Department for Education’s GenZero principles, emphasising biophilia and access to nature as core elements of the learning environment.

Hawkins\Brown's design concept is deeply rooted in the idea of interweaving buildings with nature. The school’s layout is based on a village plan, with five classroom blocks arranged around green spaces and gardens. At the centre is a ‘town square’ that serves as a welcoming arrival point. This outdoor space, covered by a high canopy, is surrounded by essential functions such as administration, a library, a hall and a space for faith activities. 

From the square, a covered walkway, referred to as ‘the street’, leads to the individual classroom blocks, each opening onto smaller garden areas or courtyards. Beyond these, the school grounds transition into a more informal landscape with fields, playgrounds and parkland that encourages outdoor engagement.

This thoughtful planning supports not only the academic but also the social and spiritual development of the children. As part of a pilot scheme with a standardised approach to new school buildings, the design pioneers long-term flexibility and adaptability. 

The classroom spaces are designed to be easily reconfigured to accommodate changing educational needs. The majority of the furniture is on wheels, allowing for the flexible use of space and a more fluid learning environment.

The project’s social impact is significant. The ‘town square’ offers ample space for parents and carers to gather during drop-off and pick-up times, fostering a sense of community and connection. The outdoor spaces encourage children to engage in self-directed play, with covered walkways ensuring outdoor play even during inclement weather. 

Inside, the classrooms are filled with natural light and have acoustic ceilings, creating calm environments conducive to learning. The use of natural cross-ventilation contributes to a comfortable, healthy atmosphere. The exposed services and concrete floors are low maintenance as well as offering functional benefits.

The school’s sustainability efforts are exemplary. The design minimises environmental impact through its use of timber construction, modular systems and low embodied carbon. A high-level light shelf in the classrooms helps to reduce cold draughts, enabling natural ventilation all year round. Rooftop photovoltaic panels supply energy, reducing the building’s reliance on external resources. The landscaping is equally sustainable, with ground-level sustainable drainage systems (SuDs), new tree planting, wildflower meadows and green roofs designed to promote biodiversity and support local ecosystems.

St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy represents an outstanding example of how thoughtful architecture can address the needs of education, community and sustainability. Through its innovative design and dedication to environmental and social goals, it offers a model for future school buildings that are both flexible and sustainable.

See the rest of the RIBA East Midlands winners here. And all the RIBA UK Awards here.

To see the whole RIBA Awards process visit architecture.com.

RIBA UK Awards 2025 sponsored by Autodesk, EH Smith, Equitone and VELUX