A school transformed Academy Wandsworth, hawkinsbrown.com Project: Ark Putney Academy Location: Wandsworth, London Building on Client: Wandsworth Borough Council and Ark Services: Architecture and former glories interior design Scope: Regeneration Value: £19m Status: Completed Elliott School, Ark Putney Academy today, Optimism seemed to have been fully was one of London County Council’s finest abandoned when the Building Schools for post-war comprehensive schools. Opened the Future (BSF) initiative was axed and, by Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell, the air with it, a £40 million restoration scheme. must have been filled with the promise of social equality. Monumental and visionary, Hope came in the shape of a project the design was recognised with Grade-II devised by Wandsworth Council and its listing in 1993. Just over 15 years on, the strategic development partner Lendlease school was found to be failing. to self-fund the school’s regeneration. The plan included releasing some funds Falling pupil numbers were at odds with by selling an underused part of the site a successful past; any ‘Elliottonian’ would and turning the school into an academy, be quick to point out their school’s proud championed by the Absolute Return for history. A façade in disrepair didn’t help. Kids (Ark) education charity. With the Scaffolding with hoardings held up the buildings saved from de-listing and dilapidated curtain walling due to lack demolition – and with less than half the of funds. BSF regeneration budget – we were tasked to transform the school while retaining as much of the original architecture as possible. Giving the school \This is a school that now is in the position to reach its potential for the local community. a much-needed facelift It can finally be unleashed to provide brilliant comprehensive education\

Justine Greening Local MP and Secretary of State for Education First impressions count. Fundamental to It was also important to herald change attracting new pupils, their parents and with a fresh identity for the new academy. talented staff was a sympathetic restoration Inspired by the interior 1950s palette and of the school’s outward appearance: the tile patterns, we created a playful colour curtain walling to the 124m-long main scheme for the façade, which also helped building and replacement sports hall. soften the architectural mass.

Working closely with Historic , the Besides aesthetics, the façade resolved Twentieth Century Society, our clients year-round issues with heating, cooling (Ark and Wandsworth Borough Council), and ventilation. The newly sealed buildings the project’s specialist engineering now meet modern energy standards, consultant and the wider community, vastly improving thermal and solar we developed a double-glazed window performance, with the option to open system, supported by a thermally broken, windows in the warmer months. aluminum curtain wall. Annual heating bills have dropped Attention to detail by around 80%. The design solution for the replacement Not forgetting curtain walls enabled the elephant us to reference the A new logo completes original windows – the facelift; a winning notably the rigorous entry in a pupil design configuration and slim 4,000 contest, based on frames – and retain sq m the school’s former the sightlines. of exterior glazing replaced elephant emblem. Creating space for 21st century learning 1 4

Beyond the façade, the entire campus Rethinking the main teaching block 1\ Retaining architectural was in need of essential repairs and The academy’s classrooms were increased features and details modernisation to meet the community’s in size to meet today’s teaching standards, Our interior design solution learning needs. It was a large site with an essential ground-floor dining area conserved and enhanced the buildings’ high-quality finishes, 2 3 comprising three main parts: the main added. Lobbies and circulation spaces are including the three terrazzo teaching block, the sports facility and filled with light and now flow well. main staircases with hardwood a huge assembly hall. The challenge timber rails. To these stair cores, here was to achieve the remodelling The academy is naturally ventilated we added coloured acoustic with sensitivity to the heritage of the throughout, with the exception of the wall panels, with a 1950s existing listed school buildings, within IT labs and music department, which influenced palette. a tight budget. accommodates sound-proof recording 2\ Re-landscaping the studios and a large production suite. external spaces We focused on the aspects that would The areas around school make the biggest impact to pupils’ buildings are important too; immediate environment. the defining place where children learn how to interact and socialise with others. Re-landscaping allowed us to maximise the usable playspace, as well as make accessibility improvements, reducing the level changes site-wide.

3\ Knocking right through The academy’s art department is another new asset, sitting in \ I hope that pupils leave Ark Putney Academy the elegant, freeform concrete 1 2 wave roof on the top floor. with fond memories of their time there, with Once a series of smaller rooms, this calm inspiring space with a clear sense of self-worth and a feeling of views over the capital is proving popular. An open space to open eyes and minds, providing limitless potential\ an alternative type of learning environment. John Jeffery Architect 4\ A community sports facility and dance studio To meet modern building standards cost effectively, the former gymnasium and workshops were replaced with a steel-frame structure, retaining the site’s original cruciform plan and building’s composition. The hall is naturally ventilated through a zone of hit-and-miss brickwork. The birch-faced plywood lining provides a 3 4 robust solution with a warm, natural finish. TOP

5%of performing schools for progress, since completion Making the most of your site Hawkins\Brown is a modern British architectural practice with an award- winning approach to design. We put our hearts and minds into realising your project’s potential. You’ll discover creativity, commitment and a desire to collaborate to reach the best solution.

To find out more about our practice or talk to us about your project, contact:

Carol Lees [email protected] +44 (0)20 7336 8030

London\ 159 St John Street EC1V 4QJ +44 (0)20 7336 8030 [email protected]

Manchester\ 3C Tariff Street M1 2FF +44 (0)161 641 5522 [email protected] hawkinsbrown.com