A NEW school theatre has been shortlisted for a top design award.

Yarm School’s performing arts centre was built as part of a £20m, four-year refurbishment which was finally completed this week.

The glass-fronted theatre, opened last year by Princess Alexandra, the Queen’s cousin who gave her name to it, has been shortlisted for a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North-East award.

The independent school in Yarm, Stockton, has been redeveloped by Associated Architects which has also designed its new sports facilities.

Yarm School headmaster, David Dunn, is it was “fantastic” news to been shortlisted for such a prestigious award. The school is also a celebrating a historic victory after its rugby team lifted the Daily Mail RBS U18 Vase after a thrilling 17-15 win against Felsted at Twickenham yesterday (SAT).

“Everyone associated with the performing arts department is ecstatic and credit must go to Adam Wardle, the architect who worked so hard on making the facility so flexible and impressive as well as sustainable,” he said.

The eco design also included installing a deep ground heat source pump which provides under floor heating and using solar panels to pre-heat water in the changing rooms.

Mr Wardle, director of Associated Architects, added: “At the heart of the project was the performance hall, an 800-capacity auditorium complete with a flexible studio theatre and music performance suite, together with a dedicated dance studio.”

“This has provided state-of-the-art facilities for music, drama and dance as well as a fantastic space for public performances. There is a large glassed foyer space with an external terrace overlooking the River Tees."

The fee-paying school for children aged between three and 18 has recently caused controversy in Yarm after complaints that some parents and students had been parking inappropriately and for a recently planning application to build 11 new playing pitches on part of Tees Heritage Park, allowing 735 new homes to be constructed on the current playing fields, which was turned down by Stockton Borough Council.

Yarm School’s theatre and the other shortlisted buildings will be assessed by a regional jury with the winners of the North-East RIBA awards, announced on Wednesday, June 12, at Newcastle Civic Centre.