Information about this scheme

The new schoolhouse – LePeton Building, was designed as part of the overall masterplan to respond to a school-wide desire for spaces enhancing life between classes. It provides 10 new classrooms, 3 meeting rooms, internal and external social spaces and ancillary accommodation such as WC’s and plant room. The two-storey brick and timber building, entered through a generous covered outdoor space, looks back down the school street. The heart of the building is a social forum, linking the two floors and opening out to the playing fields. Corridors are wide, bright, and lively spaces with areas for seating to enhance positive social interaction. The new School House has been carefully positioned on the campus to form a conclusion to an existing passageway, a “village street”. On the park side it completes a slightly curved line, a crescent set up by the fronts of the old house, science block and canteen. It complements the old house but does not compete with it. The position of the carved entrance space along this axis gives orientation to the building as one approaches from a distance. This is an important aspect in relation to the overall established context. New pockets and places have been added with brick carpets, concrete benches, and meeting points at the thresholds of the teaching blocks. The character of the main internal social forum is defined by the carefully selected materials - mainly timber with a concrete structure. Large hardwood timber windows flood the space with natural light. Architects, engineers, and builders worked closely together to make a lasting public building on this beautiful site and develop innovative environmental strategies. A Universal Design consultant was involved throughout ensuring that the new building remains fully accessible to everyone. The removal of an existing hockey pitch was followed by the re-configuration of the existing sports playing areas to include a new hockey pitch and a smaller rugby pitch. New areas of brick and concrete paving with a mixture of soft landscaping were introduced. This high-quality building reflects the heritage of the school and its proud contribution to the local community.