PUPILS at Kington St Michael CE Primary School near Chippenham have become the first in the country to take their seats in a new style of modern classroom made by UK firm Norwegian Log Buildings.

The brand new contemporary log building was made and built off site at Norwegian Log’s Berkshire manufacturing base in four modular sections. Erected in just two days on the school grounds and so causing minimal disruption to staff and pupils, it boasts a fully-fitted 54m² classroom, lobby and two toilets and is now home to the school’s Year 2 and 3 class.

The striking building is the first classroom to be made by Norwegian Log as part of its contemporary range. Using traditional log construction methods, gleaned over 30 years, the firm is branching out into providing much larger transportable buildings – all with a modern design twist but with the same durability, acoustics and natural thermal insulation.

Finished in a natural silver hue with large roof lights and windows, the Wiltshire classroom is flooded with natural light and sits on the edge of the school’s grounds. Head teacher Tracy Cornelius said: “We wanted a building that would fit in to the school at the end of our field and look in keeping with the rural surroundings. We also wanted it to be smart, not like an old-fashioned mobile classroom, and to be a permanent fixture that would last.”

The new building has proved a hit with pupils. “The children love it. It has a fantastic atmosphere, a really nice learning environment and the pupils appreciate how lucky they are to have it,” she added. It has also solved a space issue at the over-subscribed school, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, which has grown rapidly from 76 pupils just eight years ago to 120 currently. “We’ll now be able to redevelop other areas of our school into a music room and library so the building is helping not just one class but the whole school,” Tracy said.

Over the last three decades Norwegian Log has become a leading supplier of traditional-style, high quality solid log buildings to major leisure developments, sourced from one of Norway’s leading log building manufacturers. It has also built solid log classrooms and swimming pools for schools across the UK. The firm is now launching its UK-made contemporary range to commercial customers.

Managing Director Nick Forrester said: “We introduced our contemporary range to homeowners three years ago and have made contemporary garden buildings for private plots large and small. We’re now looking forward to working with larger commercial customers who want the speed, flexibility and quality that a building like this can bring, with the added bonus of on-trend looks and style.

“We’re delighted Kington St Michael’s pupils have given their new classroom the thumbs up. Tracy and her team wanted a classroom building that looks good and would last and we’ve delivered exactly that,” he said.

Contemporary transportable buildings are also available bespoke for holiday homes, leisure developments and agricultural dwellings.

ENDS

Notes for editors: Since the 1980s, Norwegian Log Buildings has been erecting buildings, classrooms and pool enclosures for schools across the UK. It has also supplied over 1,000 buildings to private clients, companies, holiday parks, local authorities, charities and public bodies. With a 30-strong team, the firm is based in Reading, Berkshire.