(ENTER SCHOOL NAME) PUPILS ENTER MAGGIE’S
ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION FOR SCHOOLS TO BE JUDGED BY
BROADCASTER KIRSTY WARK
Press Release
PUPILS of (Enter School name) have entered a nation-wide architecture competition to help
introduce Scotland’s school kids to the importance of good design.
The Maggie’s School’s Architecture Competition, sponsored by The Lighthouse, Scotland’s
Centre for Architecture and Design, offers Standard Grade and Higher pupils the chance to
design a new Maggie’s Centre, introducing them to the ideas around how architecture can
impact health and wellbeing while also giving them an insight into architecture, design and
technology.
A group of (NUMBER) pupils from (YEAR) have spent hours working on their designs for a
new Maggie’s Centre in order to enter the competition.
TEACHER OR PUPIL QUOTE
The competition will be judged by Broadcaster and Maggie’s Patron Kirsty Wark and top
Edinburgh architect Richard Murphy.
Judge Kirsty Wark said: “I haven't judged the competition before but last year I had a look at
the entries. There were some great ideas and the young people really understood the brief
and understood what we needed from them."
Shortlisted entrants will be displayed at The Lighthouse visitor centre in Glasgow Scotland’s centre for Design and Architecture - as part of an exciting exhibition in the
summer of 2014.
The winner will also win a week’s work experience with Richard Murphy.
Ian Elder, manager, The Lighthouse, said: “I am delighted pupils from (ENTER SCHOOL
NAME HERE) have entered the competition and I am greatly looking forward to seeing their
submissions.
“We worked with Maggie’s to develop a concept to present architecture into schools,
introducing creativity, innovation and the wider idea of how this can be applied through
design to buildings. A competition is a great way to engage with young people and the fact
that the schools design their submissions to the same brief as architects gives real-life
experience. The winner gets work experience in a real firm which further emphasises the
practical nature of this competition.”
Maggie’s Centres provide emotional, practical and social support for anyone with cancer and
their families and friends. Designed by leading architects, Maggie’s Centres are warm,
friendly, informal places, full of light and open space with a big kitchen at their heart. They
provide a haven from the stress of dealing with hospitals, appointments and treatment.
Maggie’s Arts and Culture Co-ordinator Kathryn Lamont said: “It is great to hear pupils at
(ENTER SCHOOL NAME HERE) are as excited by our School’s Architecture Competition as
Maggie’s is.
“It is a great opportunity for Standard Grade and Higher pupils to get a taste of what it is like
to be an architect and introduce them to a range of ideas, concepts and skills, including
research and presentation skills, which can only add value to the current school curriculum.
“Maggie’s Centres are healing spaces which offer emotional, social and practical support to
people with cancer as well as their friends and families and we strongly believe in the power
of design and the link between wellbeing and environment.
“The architect for each Centre is given the same brief, to provide a healing space, and yet
the design for each of our Centres is completely unique.
“Our aim through this competition is to inspire and we hope to encourage the next
generation of architects who might one day be designing extraordinary buildings which offer
people hope, inspiration or calm.”
For more media information please contact Samantha Booth on 0141 330 3367 or at
Samantha.booth@maggiescentres.org.
For media enquiries about The Lighthouse:
Laura Sutherland, Aura PR T: 0141 337 6712/07764 936 840 E: laura@aura-pr.com
Notes to Editor
 Maggie’s offers free emotional, practical and social support to people with cancer and
their families and friends.
 Maggie’s is there for people at any stage of any type of cancer and no appointments
are necessary.
 Maggie’s Centres are in the grounds of specialist cancer hospitals and are designed
by architects including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, and Norman Foster.
 The first Maggie’s Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996 and there are now 15 Centres
offering our programme of support: Edinburgh, Glasgow Gatehouse, Glasgow
Gartnavel, Dundee, Highlands, Fife, West London, Cheltenham, Nottingham, South
West Wales, Cambridge, Oxford, Lanarkshire and Hong Kong.
 In 2011, Maggie’s Centres across the UK received more than 100,000 visits.
 Maggie’s Online Centre extends support to reach people wherever they are in the
world and whenever they need it at: community.maggiescentres.org
 Grant- making charity Walk the Walk, who have been able to support Maggie’s by
money raised through The MoonWalk Edinburgh, funded Maggie’s Gartnavel which
opened in October 2011 and is also the principle funder for the planned Maggie’s
Forth Valley
 For further information about The Lighthouse visit www.thelighthouse.co.uk
 Imagery from The Lighthouse available on request