Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop Architects have been commissioned by Clackmannanshire Council to develop ideas for the design of new schools for the 21st Century.

gm+ad will be working with Clackmannanshire's Director of Education, Sandy Wilson, top educationalists and heads of school in Alloa and also with senior members of the council including Chief Executive, Mr. Keir Bloomer. Their generic designs will then be used to influence the tendering process for all PPP school projects and underline the importance of good design.

"We have been asked to consider the poetic, the sculptural, the social and how children learn", says Alan Dunlop "as well as safety and security". " It's and exciting project, no doubt about it" he adds, " we'll be involved in designing a school for the future......... a positive and edifying environment where children can learn and thrive."

The commission will run until March 2004, after which time the designs produced by the practice will be incorporated into a document to be used for tendering and set a benchmark for the future procurement of schools.