The Kingston Academy

A SCHOOL FOR ALL This publicly funded project offered the opportunity to give new life to an abandoned existing building and expand it through a contemporary extension of twice its size, 10,000sqm in total. The Kingston Academy fulfilled the need for a local secondary school by completing an educational hub including a primary and a highly selective girls’ school, and it welcomes 1188 pupils of any gender and ability, thanks to an extended SEN/inclusion facility. The focus of the Academy’s teaching is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). This required designing a range of teaching spaces, which integrate the existing (traditionally instruction-based learning) and the new (collaborative research-based learning) buildings, while maintaining the feeling of belonging to one school. AN EFFICIENT LAYOUT FOR INSPIRING LEARNING SPACES This goal was achieved by mirroring the existing building layout, which is laid around an external courtyard, into the new layout, which is laid around an internal central atrium; adjacent to this is the sports hall and the main entrance. This very efficient space organisation allowed to respond to a dense design brief on a very compact plot, whilst also maximising outdoor spaces. The clear circulation route across the two buildings allowed a range of flexible spaces, such as standard classrooms, break-out spaces, and specialist labs. On each floor the labs are grouped around the science/engineering prep rooms, and interconnect physically and visually through glazed screens, creating a fluid layout which fosters an observation and sharing approach. The central atrium is the heart of the new Academy, dedicated to social gathering, dining and events. Off-centred within this double-height space, a white floating box (science lecture theatre), supported by only four columns, allows natural light to descend around the atrium, giving the illusion of being suspended and creating visual permeability across the space. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND USER WELLBEING The strategy utilised was to refurbish the existing building, capturing and reusing the embodied carbon of its major elements in line with the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. The new extension’s compact mass contributes to the building’s energy efficiency, also benefitting of the exposed slabs’ thermal mass. The environmental design measures resulted in a striking new building achieving an EPC A rating and BREEAM ‘Very Good’ with a focus on users’ wellbeing. Daylight has been maximised through a homogeneous distribution of windows along the facades, allowing beautiful views outside. The glazed central atrium brings natural light to the adjacent classrooms, and sky views and stunning light fittings reinforce this special space. BLENDING WITH THE SURROUNDINGS The new building’s façade is rich in detail, with expressed columns, recessed horizontal render bands and vertical full height windows, alternated with coloured metal panels. Its nature and colours complement the existing brick façade without dominating it and blend in with the surrounding schools and housing. AN ASSET FOR ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY The Academy doors are open to the residents, who can reap the benefits of excellent sports facilities, reinforcing the school’s position as a vital service at the heart of the community.