Art Block, Inverkeithing High School, Hillend Road, Inverkeithing

Art Block, Inverkeithing High School

This extensive Late Modern high school complex was designed by Fife County Council Architects between 1968 and 1973, with Gavin McConnell as project architect under county architect R S Lawrie, and engineers Blyth & Blyth. The buildings are arranged roughly in an I-plan configuration.

The central element is a large rectangular four-storey classroom block on a north-south axis, partially supported on round-plan steel pilotis. A two-storey rectangular administration block radiates to the southwest, while a single-storey U-plan technical block stands to the northwest. To the northeast and southeast are single and two-storey circular pavilions in ribbed concrete (housing the science and homecraft departments), which are partially sunk into the ground and partially elevated on pilotis. A single-storey rectangular gymnasium and community centre block occupies the western side of the complex, facing an open courtyard to the west of the classroom block. A small greenhouse and gardens are situated to the north of the technical block.

The buildings are finished throughout in dry-dash render and ribbed concrete blockwork, with ambulatories beneath the classroom and administration blocks supported by pilotis. Vertical and horizontal pine surfaces provide decorative treatment to walls, doorways, windows and handrails, predominantly internal but with some external application. Wide continuous horizontal metal-framed glazing with black Perspex detailing features throughout, complemented by some thin vertical glazing to the classroom block. Wide overhanging concrete eaves are formed from chamfered and ribbed concrete panels, some with vertical emphasis.

The administration block sits on an east-west axis with its first floor overhanging the ground floor, the latter supported by pilotis with a surrounding ambulatory. Chamfered, diagonally ribbed and moulded concrete eaves project outward, with three projecting concrete blocks of identical treatment flanked by vertical and horizontal windows. The interior features a narrow split-level main entrance with terrazzo flooring and steel railings, narrow tongue and groove pine panelling, and gangway access to the main office at first floor level with wide pine handrails. A fibreglass artwork depicting the history of Inverkeithing and the universe, created around 1974 by the High School Art Department, hangs along the gangway. A double-height assembly hall occupies the centre of the plan to the north, fully clad in tongue and groove timber with splayed roof beams set diagonally across the hall and hung approximately 75 centimetres below the ceiling; up-lighting is inserted into the roof beams, with a mezzanine to the south. Tongue and groove timber finishes the board room (formerly a nurses station) and staff room at first floor level. Two dining rooms occupy the ground floor to the west, supported by pilotis throughout.

The classroom block is arranged on a long roughly rectangular plan across sloping ground toward the north, rising to two, three and four storeys on single and double pilotis. Purpose-built blocks accommodating the geography and music departments occupy the roof-top to the south, with individual classrooms and studios set diagonally and topped with low pitched roofs; a glazed walkway extends to the east. The art department occupies a separate location to the north at fourth floor level. Interior treatment is generally plain with black and white linoleum flooring and drop ceilings, except for pine finishes to the central lobby at the east entrance, which features locker and seating facilities, and geometric tongue and groove pine ceiling treatment to the stairwells. A double-height former library lies to the southwest of the plan, fully glazed to the west and lined with tongue and groove pine, with a mezzanine to the east.

The science block sits to the northeast, partially set into the ground on pilotis with the ground floor later infilled by a new school library (installed in 2002). The homecraft block occupies the southeast position as a single-storey structure. The science block interior centres on a circular lecture theatre with decorative narrow tongue and groove pine wall and ceiling treatment, a central circular rooflight with timber-clad beams radiating from the centre, and full-height vertical openings at regular intervals. Theatre seating and a large curved desk on a plinth occupy the centre, with radiating laboratories and offices accessed via a separating corridor. The homecraft block interior is dominated by a large central circular dining hall with a roof design similar to the science block lecture theatre, and classrooms positioned around the periphery.

The technical block displays ribbed concrete overhanging eaves with service doors to the west and flush rectangular rooflights throughout. The interior houses workshops and laboratories with louvered timber ceilings and decorative black and white linoleum and parquet flooring.

The gymnasium and community centre block is a plain flat-roofed structure. Its interior features a curved information office with vertical timber ribbing and a sunken circular reception area with black and white terrazzo flooring. Horizontal and vertical tongue and groove pine finishes the walls, whilst the corridor walls display exposed brick. A sunken rectangular rehearsal and performance space occupies the centre of the plan. The swimming pool is lined with blue and white tiling to the walls, with a drop ceiling incorporating wide chamfered roof beams. A large rectangular gymnasium to the northwest features narrow tongue and groove pine to the upper walls and ceiling, with narrow strip windows.