Bowled over by new Glasgow Academy Newlands Nursery

The conversion involved an extensive refurbishment and extension to provide enhanced facilities designed to accommodate around 50 children, where the previous nursery could house only 13.

Dr W.R. Kerr, general manager at The Glasgow Academy, said: “What more could a child want than a safe and exciting place in which to grow, learn, experience and develop? That is exactly what Mosaic provided for The Glasgow Academy at its new Nursery and Kindergarten.

“Mosaic’s design of Newlands Nursery takes its inspiration from its unique setting, where indoor-outdoor play is central to the design concept and the garden environment is considered central to the children’s learning experience.

“The expanse of the exquisitely designed former bowling club pavilion provides the children with a spacious and flexible play-space that generously opens out to expansive grounds that offer an outdoor environment rich in natural beauty distinguished by a concentration of mature trees. Such a space is perfect for little feet to run around, little hands to touch and hold, little eyes to observe their world and little ears to listen to the sounds around them.

“Mosaic was tasked with fitting all of the functions needed to meet both children and teachers needs into the space, and creating an environment conducive to learning and play. These concepts shaped Mosaic’s design process and its outcome, which provided highly functional solutions that met the staff and children’s needs. Indeed, Mosaic did this so well that the Nursery filled within weeks.”

Stephen Mallon, director of Mosaic, added: “The conversion has proved to be a great success – indeed we have since been commissioned by the school to design an extension to meet the growing demand.The refurbishment has created an attractive large open space for children to learn and play – and has proven popular with children and parents alike.”

The new Newlands Nursery and Kindergarten includes expansive green spaces with an abundance of fascinating flora and fauna for the children to explore, designed to enable the provision of a safe and secure setting for every child to grow.