The Woodland Building

YMD Boon was appointed to design and deliver the new Woodland Building at Meadowdale Primary School, a sustainable learning environment that replaces two ageing mobile blocks. The single-storey building provides four modern classrooms, an intervention space, accessible toilets, and a dedicated playground for Key Stage 1 pupils, transforming the school’s facilities and enhancing the learning experience.

A key feature of the design is the green sedum roof, which supports biodiversity, reduces carbon emissions, and serves as a hands-on educational tool to teach pupils about sustainability and the natural environment. Additional landscaping has also improved outdoor play areas and supports the school’s commitment to outdoor learning.

YMD Boon secured project funding through the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) and provided full architectural design and project management services from feasibility to completion. The project overcame significant challenges presented by the landlocked site, bordered by residential properties and a main road, to deliver a bespoke, space-efficient solution.

The new facility was officially opened in a celebratory event led by Mr Robert Nixon, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire, alongside staff, governors, and the local community. The Woodland Building marks a key milestone in the school’s development, with the next phase, a new Forest School area, set to further enhance outdoor learning and environmental engagement.