Client's/Architect's Perspective
The brief was devised by the Council's Education and Children's Services division, and included consultation with the school staff and School Board at the design stage.
Although this building links into an existing school, the new wing is to all intents and purposes entirely separate. This meant that there were few problems or issues in delivering this project. A new entrance was formed at the hinge point where the two buildings meet, and where the new offices are located. Until completion of the new wing, the original entrance remained as the main point of entry.
In addition to seeing through the 'sustainable' elements of the project this building was delivered on time and on budget within a very tight timescale, during which the school had to continue to function. Budgetwise, it was shown that good sustainable features can be delivered within similar cost 
constraints to a standard approach.
Users' Perspective
The existing building was prone to overheating due to the large area of glazing in the street/atrium and this was addressed during construction of the extension with the addition of automatically opening rooflights. This past experience made the users particularly aware of the importance of providing a stable environment in the new extension. The solid masonry construction with external insulation has proved successful in this respect, with no complaints of summer overheating.
All new classrooms are naturally ventilated and are either dual aspect or have single sided ventilation together with electrically operated rooflights to allow cross ventilation. 
General evaluation of building
The existing school is open plan and had been found at times to be noisy and a little disruptive for the learning and teaching of older children - perhaps exacerbated by lively acoustics. The new classroom wing is at the other end of the school and allows senior pupils to be separated from the lower school in their own quiet 'haven'.
Teachers reported that they were extremely pleased with the extension. They also reported that the air quality, spatial quality and daylighting in the new classrooms are an added bonus, and expressed a particular liking for the bright internal surface finishes, though they are less aware of the sustainable or environmentally friendly nature of the materials used to achieve this.
Lessons Learned
In this case the site constraints meant that the external nursery play area does not open directly from the play room - it has to be accessed from the cloakroom area. Consultation at the design stage suggested that although not ideal this was a workable compromise.