On behalf of Sala Municipality and Byggpartner, Archus has designed a space-efficient primary school for Valla School's primary and middle school, located in the existing schoolyard next to the historic old Valla School.

The new school has a building area of about 6,000 square meters, three floors and space for 525 students. The new school building will meet environmental certification requirements according to the Swedish Green Building Council's Silver standard, and with carefully selected technical solutions and materials, contribute to low operating and maintenance costs throughout its lifetime. The school is built with a solid wood frame and brick façade.

An activity-based school environment

The school will be activity-based and instead of working traditionally with a class in a classroom, the school consists of homes for 65-70 students and associated staff teams. In the residence there are rooms of different character and size. This makes it possible to adapt the teaching to different learning situations and varying group sizes, but also to individual needs. In addition to suitable premises for teaching, Valla School will be a creative and playful place for the students' leisure time and also an attractive workplace for the staff.

"A new school is a good opportunity for the organisation to rethink and renew its way of working. Implementing new ideas takes both time and energy, which is why we are happy to collaborate with an educational process manager who acts as a bridge between the business and the architects. A common goal and participation are the key to a successful school construction." Anna Kovacs, architect SAR/MSA

Text provided by Archus