In March 2003 Sheffield City Council launched a competition for an environmentally innovative new primary school in Heeley, Sheffield. The existing Anns Grove School was housed in a listed Victorian building which was oversized, in need of significant repair and unsuitable to the schools needs. As part of the ‘Primary Regeneration’ review it was recommended that the school should be rebuilt at a smaller size on an adjoining part of the site. Due to it’s listed status it was envisaged that the existing school buildings would remain in community use.

Expressions of interest were received from sixty eight architect-led teams and six practices were selected to attend an interview. This gave the jury panel an opportunity to learn more about their experience, meet the project team and to hear about their thoughts for the site. White Design were selected as the winner as the panel felt they showed a comprehensive commitment to sustainability and an awareness of educational issues, scoring highly on the quality and innovation of their design work.

White Design worked closely with the Client to develop the design. They ensured the local community were fully involved in the design process - interviewing staff, pupils and parents and discussing plans with the school's council.

The new building opened in the summer of 2006. The primary structure is a combination of glue laminated timber frames and load bearing masonry. With environmental innovation high on the list of priorities, the school has been designed to maximise natural ventilation and natural light. Amongst the school's unique innovations are the use of old newspaper and recycled denim jeans for wall insulation, a first for a building project in the UK.