We designed a bespoke ‘Nexus’ building to provide alternative learning provision for eight highly specialist need pupils at Briarwood SEN Special School in Bristol. The bespoke facility was awarded BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation when it opened in March 2019, and provides specialist education and care for children and young people with severe learning difficulties and complex needs.

The whole school site was rationalised to improve pedestrian safety and provide attractive external spaces, with improved connectivity and legibility between building uses.

The new post-16 centre caters for pupils with a range of special educational needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).

Each room has a highlight colour, which reduces reliance by pupils on signage.