The architects who led the design of the Garnock Community Campus and Largs Campus have been chosen to design the new Ardrossan school that will be built at the former Shell Oil site.  

However, before any Campus construction work starts, the land will have to be reinstated by environmental specialists.

Read More: Ardrossan campus on former Shell site to be discussed at full council | Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald (ardrossanherald.com)

The design of a new education and community campus in Ardrossan will be lead by jmarchitects and developed at the North Shore.

The education and community campus is part of £150million plans for the site which also include sports pitches, housing, commercial uses, roads, a new coastal path, and facilities associated with an extended marina.

The experienced and established firm are well known to the council and they have a huge portfolio of facilities including James Gillespie’s Campus, Edinburgh, the Galleries Shopping Centre in Wigan and the Seona Reid Building at the Glasgow School of Art.

Speaking about their appointment, Councillor Joe Cullinane, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “We are delighted to have appointed the Lead Design team and look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months.

“They have a great track record, particularly in the education sector, and we are sure they will design a facility that is engaging, welcoming, and a great place for young people to learn and prosper.

“We will be engaging with various stakeholders, and getting their input, as the design process moves forward.”

As part of their Community Wealth Building commitment, jmarchitects will offer various placements to local people and other opportunities to school pupils.

They will be tasked with designing a facility that fits with the council’s drive of becoming net-zero by 2030.

Henry McKeown, Design Director of jmarchitects, said: “We are delighted to be once again working with the team at North Ayrshire Council to design the new Ardrossan Community campus.

"The site for the campus, on the Ardrossan shore and with stunning views to Arran, presents the opportunity to design and build a unique community learning environment that will transform the learning experience for the community of Ardrossan.”

Work on the former Shell site is expected to start in the Spring of 2022 with the site remediation works and the Campus construction commencing in late 2022 with the school opening in January 2025.