Independent Schools
Independent schools are unique, and at ADP we are intrigued to find out what creates their special individual character. People Inspired We put people at the heart of our design process, and are always striving to ensure that our solutions meet their aspirations. This is where our work makes the greatest contribution, benefiting the lives of pupils and staff. Our aim is to strengthen the distinctiveness, and maximise the potential of the whole school community. Front cover image: Pupils at St John’s School in the contemporary addition to the listed former chapel. Left: Pupils in the listed boarding houses, Christ’s Hospital School, refurbished to modern standards.
Early engagement with pupils, teachers, bursars, governors, and the local community, results in bespoke and practical solutions that meet the needs of building users
while celebrating a school’s unique character and academic ambition. Many of our clients have a rich and distinct heritage, and are often faced with the difficulties of running historic estates efficiently. We ensure that the solutions we deliver make the most of the assets available, are hardworking, flexible, and provide real and sustainable solutions to challenges, both now and in the future. This maximises value, minimises planning risk, and creates uplifting places that suit both setting and purpose.
“ADP has designed a building which is not only a beacon of excellence for educational buildings but also complements and blends in with the traditional aspects of the school.”
Quote: Nicholas Haddock, former Headmaster, St John’s School.
“Once again ADP has designed a building which is exciting, full of stunning features and views, yet in keeping with the integrity and feel of the school campus as a whole.”
INSPIRING PLACES Good design enables pupils to fully explore their interests and talents, and allows teachers to focus on teaching. High quality buildings also showcase a school’s academic profile; important to prospective parents and in attracting the best teaching staff. Working closely with our clients’ ambition for their school, we offer an integrated design service from strategic masterplans that review entire estates, to the design of contemporary new architecture and the sustainable reuse of existing and historic buildings. The spaces between buildings are equally important. Our landscape team designs outdoor learning
spaces and green infrastructure that reinforces a sense of place, and strengthens connections with the wider community. Our diverse range of experience in designing both schools and higher education institutions has given us an understanding of space standards and new pedagogies. We also understand the pupil ‘journey’, and have designed every part of a school estate for every age group, from preparatory school to sixth form. We have integrated provisions for special needs, and designed facilities that can be shared by the local community - reinforcing a school’s charitable status.
Quote: Tony Jarvis, former Headmaster, St Olave’s School. Image: ADP’s masterplan for St Olave’s blends new additions with the 1960s original buildings.
“Whether it’s impressing the visiting prospective new parents, the timid pupil on their very first day, or the daily flow of pupils in and out of the school, the arrival sequence now has the grandeur you would expect of a prestigious school.”
Image: The approach and entrance to Highgate School was significantly improved by removing a security hut, providing a new extension and reinstating an historic gateway.
Top and centre: Science centre and design and technology workshops at St John’s School. Left: Covered teaching space and outdoor learning area at Birkdale School.
Right (computer generated): Pupils at Tudor Hall School will benefit from natural light flooding into the classroom through roof lights.
“We are very pleased to be opening this wonderful new building, which will transform the way performing arts are taught within the schools.”
Quote: Sarah Evans, Principal of King Edward VI High School for Girls
Images: The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre provides a 400-seat auditorium, drama studio, multiuse rehearsal room, teaching suites and a feature foyer, for use by King Edward’s School, King Edward VI High School for Girls and the local community.
“We are tremendously proud of our new school and the exciting opportunities it provides, not just for the pupils but for the local community as a whole.�
Quote: Jane Loomes, Headteacher, RIBA Award winning Jesmond Gardens School.
“The school has excellent teaching and sporting opportunities, which will be enhanced by the school’s investment in new facilities.”
Image (computer generated): Swimmers at the new pool for Chesham Prep. will have a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Quote: Cheryl Gillan, local MP, shown the school’s future plans.
“ADP played a central role in the strategic process. Through a period of consultation they planned and designed a masterplan which underpins the School’s development for the next 30 years and beyond. It was a creative, innovative, but practical plan which took an inclusive view of the needs of the School.”
STRATEGIC THINKING
Quote: Nick Haddock, former Headmaster, St John’s School. Image: The Churchill Day House sits comfortably behind its Victorian neighbours, which was a key principle of the masterplan.
Independent schools are thriving communities that are continually evolving. If planned for the long term, facilities will enhance the reputation of the school, and bring lasting strategic benefits. Being able to plan development in sequence also allows for robust financial planning and demonstrates the school’s long term ambitions to parents, staff and the local authority.
the life span and suitability of buildings on the site, to identify areas for redevelopment or reuse. If historic buildings are involved, our conservation team can help with determining architectural significance, and producing conservation plans for the sensitive management of change. Early engagement with the planning authority also helps to get approvals on sensitive sites.
We work closely with bursars, head teachers and governors, firstly to fully understand the ethos and strategic vision of the school. The masterplan should serve those aspirations, exploiting the strengths and overcoming the weaknesses of the site. This includes determining
We see any contribution that we make to a school’s estate as another layer of its long history. Stripping away insensitive and ad hoc extensions can restore coherence to the school, creating a strong sense of place and reinforcing the school’s identity.
“We are delighted to have moved in and begun lessons in the new Science Centre. The building has been designed for pupils to explore the sciences through experimentation, research and discussion, and we are very excited to get started.”
Quote: Dr Paul Reilly, Head of Science, St John’s School. Image: ADP led early and detailed discussions with the Headmaster and other staff to explore different teaching styles - which impact on laboratory layouts – before fixing the Science Centre design.
“This is a significant proposal which will have a far reaching impact on the fabric, character and setting of the heritage assets of the Grade II listed former chapel. I am satisfied that we will secure a high quality building that represents the best of the early 21st century and which also complements, rather than conflicts with, the character of the 19th century school buildings.”
UNLOCKING HERITAGE ASSETS Independent schools are often custodians of great British historic architecture. Listed buildings contribute to an independent school’s unique character, and are frequently physical symbols of the educational vision of the time. Exploiting this architectural patronage while providing vibrant modern facilities is essential in maintaining a school’s reputation and identity. The best way of securing the future of these important historic buildings is to keep them in active use, especially where the original purpose is no longer an option and has become a significant drain on resources.The adaptation of these buildings requires creativity and insight to unlock potential, and the skill to bring them back into functional use.
We combine our masterplanning expertise with in-depth research and analysis of the building and site’s historic significance, to deliver solutions that protect a school’s built heritage, whilst reinvigorating it for current and future use. Working closely with the school, planning authority and heritage bodies, our conservation architects are experts at providing comprehensive conservation plans that inform masterplans and future development proposals. These plans steer the sensitive management of change, and ensure that historic buildings are given a sustainable ongoing use, and contemporary additions provide modern learning environments that respect their historic neighbours.
Image: An elegant single storey pavilion makes a complementary addition to a Grade II listed chapel which was restored and turned back into a place of assembly. Quote: Conservation Officer, Surrey County Council
“It’s really good and really modern, but you can get lost. It’s very spacious.”
Quote: Pupil at Christ’s Hospital School. Image: The living conditions of every pupil at Christ’s Hospital School has been improved through ADP’s comprehensive boarding house refurbishment. This formed part of our overall masterplan for the whole school, including obtaining planning permission for land sold for residential development.
“A new classroom block to provide 14 new classrooms, a library, a design and technology workshop and an art centre to enhance current teaching facilities, and to allow for pupil numbers to increase and to strengthen the overall design concept for the School.”
FLEXIBLE SPACES We are acutely aware that space is an expensive commodity, so it is vital that room utilisation is maximised – but consistent with the school’s teaching ethos.
Quote: Nicholas Ruddock at St John’s School, Leatherhead. Image: The Henry Dawes Building offers 3,320 sqm of flexible teaching space. Circulation spaces between classrooms can also be used for multiple activities.
ADP specialises in the education sector, and this means that our work for independent schools benefits from this wider expertise. For publicly-funded schools, every single square metre of floor area has to be justified. In higher education, the learning experience is not just about formal teaching spaces: informal breakout areas are just as important. Elsewhere, we have designed flexible spaces for immersive IT-rich learning experiences.
These differences simply illustrate that every part of the education sector is unique. Every school, every department, teacher and pupil is unique. Part of the architect’s skill is in recognising those differences, whilst also identifying common patterns. In that way, facilities can be both bespoke to reflect specific needs, but sufficiently agile that they can readily adapt to future requirements. ADP is particularly adept at engaging with teachers and other staff to ensure that our designs meet their particular needs, whilst at the same time ensuring that the school has facilities that will be flexible and adaptable in the future.
“The House’s fantastic facilities mean that it is a great place to live; they ensure that we can excel in both our work and play.”
BUILDING COMMUNITIES Larger independent schools can be likened to a small village, and others are the heart of small towns: the social, cultural, employment and economic focus of the community. The environment created by the architecture helps to shape the lives of pupils, teachers, support staff, governors, parents, and the wider neighbouring community. Excellent design has a vital role to play, not only in supporting the school achieve its educational aims, but also to provide high quality facilities that can be shared and enjoyed by the local community, helping the school maintain charitable status.
Accommodation that could be shared in this way – assembly halls, catering facilities, sports facilities and changing rooms for example – need to be thoughtfully located, so that they can be used by others without compromising the security and safety of pupils elsewhere on the estate. New development should be environmentally responsible, and that includes consideration of the impact on local residents. Parking and vehicular routes to and from the school are particularly sensitive issues, so good design and management to mitigate congestion is key to good local relationships.
Quote: Boarder at Harrow School, occupant of ADP’s new boarding block, which enhances the school community. Image (computer generated): The sense of a village community at Tudor Hall School will be enhanced by the new breakout circulation space we have placed as a focal point to four new ‘pavilions’, housing classrooms for Mathematics, English, Creative Arts, and staff offices.
“Usable floor space was significantly increased thorough the addition of a conservatory style structure, and the discreet addition of basement extensions alternating with courtyards, providing outlook and natural light.”
RESPONSIBLE DESIGN We seek to find pragmatic solutions to delivering low impact buildings and landscaping that provides real social, environmental and economic benefits. We start by talking to our clients and their senior management team to understand the sustainability targets for their school estate.
Image: Highgate School’s Victorian School House was converted from a former boarding house and Headmaster’s house to modern facilities for Art, and Design Technology. The floor area was significantly increased by the sensitive addition of basement level accommodation interspersed with sunken courtyards, and a new conservatory.
outset. Key decisions such as the location of the building, its orientation and the conceptual approach – all help make a building environmentally responsible, and energy efficient to reduce whole life cost. Landscape design also forms a central part of our approach: creating attractive external spaces and using planting as green infrastructure that enhances wellbeing. Our landscape architects have also designed a number of outdoor learning environments and school allotment gardens, which give pupils the opportunity to connect with the natural environment and learn about biodiversity, ecology, the seasons and where food comes from.
Independent school buildings often have local prominence and significance. Keeping these buildings in viable use is inherently sustainable. Reducing energy consumption in older buildings is key to lowering running costs, and we seek ways to ensure that every intervention is complementary to the original construction and performance of the building. We also ensure that material We offer BREEAM and Passivhaus selection is sustainable and in keeping consultancy, while also developing with a building’s historic character. bespoke solutions. Our commitment to sustainability is recognised in our When we design new buildings, the membership of the UK Green Building environment is considered from the Council and ISO 14001 certification.
Image: The library at ADP’s Jesmond Gardens School, RIBA Award winner. The project has also been showcased by the RIBA for an exemplary client:architect relationship. Quote: Jane Loomes, Headteacher, Jesmond Gardens School
“It was wonderful to work with people who could ‘get inside out heads’ and put our vision into reality. Our new building provides an inspirational place to be for our children and provides learning spaces that support our teaching pedagogy and philosophy of treating children with respect and dignity.”
Honest and open communication between the architect, client and other consultants is crucial in delivering a project on time and to budget. LOCAL DELIVERY, NATIONAL EXPERTISE We consult users on the detailed design of every space, remaining focussed throughout projects from concept to completion, and beyond.
ADP has eight studios across the UK, enabling us to give our clients a friendly hands-on service from local studios, whilst also drawing upon the expertise of the whole practice. Our We use 3D modelling and visualisation local knowledge has also enabled software to communicate our us to build strong relationships with design ideas, helping our clients to local authorities and conservation understand the qualities of internal specialists. spaces. We are at the forefront of innovative ways of promoting Putting people at the centre of the collaboration, efficient delivery, and design process has resulted in successful cost-effective solutions. award-winning architecture and longstanding client relationships. When it comes to construction, we can advise on the best procurement route We never stop learning on our client’s to use. We will also work closely with behalf, and measure the outcomes the contractor to ensure that what we of our design, so that we continually recommend is buildable and realistic, improve what we do, and contribute and that building works minimise new ideas through research, lectures, impact on the running of the school. and articles in the media.
Right: Our approach to design frequently combines vibrant and bright interior spaces that stimulate learning with a historic setting. Back cover image: Pupils looking out from new and striking contemporary teaching building towards views of the historic quad at St John’s School.
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