St David’s School
Expansion
Strategic masterplan and architectural development for a growing school in South London.
Sector
Education
The Challenge
Helping a school to grow within a sensitive woodland site.
The Outcome
A phased, strategic masterplan to transform the school over a 5-year period.
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OVERVIEW
St David’s Prep is a co-ed day school set within a 5 acre woodland site in South London. The campus comprises an historic street-facing school building and a cluster of lower quality, temporary buildings that had outlived their shelf-life. At the heart of the brief was finding the most effective way for the school to increase to full two-form entry capacity and unlock the full potential of their unique site.
MASTERPLAN
Our masterplan proposed a mix of new buildings, internal reconfiguration, and landscaping works to optimise the school’s arrangement. It was essential to minimise disruption to the school and careful consideration was given to how phase building works to achieve this.
Following a successful pre-app with the local council, work has begun on the first phase of development, which includes the addition of a new-build eight-classroom block, a hall extension, and landscaping and parking alterations that will help improve site security, visitor flow, and improve outdoor play provision.
STRATEGY-LED APPROACH
We started by analysing the different challenges and opportunities presented by the school campus. Using diagrams, plans, and 3D massing studies we were able to show a range of options to the client, before settling on a preferred option that best satisfied their brief. This was costed, and considered carefully in relation to phasing and decanting so that there would be a gradual increase in classroom numbers and no adverse impact on ongoing operations.
"Kennedy Woods are extremely focused on client engagement, and relentlessly seek to understand how different schools operate, how future buildings can be used most effectively and how their architecture can contribute positively to the educational experience..”
Mark Dingle
Operations Director, Wishford Schools Group
DISCRETE ADDITIONS
The new buildings were designed to sit sensitively within the existing site. Set back from the street and clad in timber, viewed from outside the site they disappear within the trees. The use of external decks instead of sterile corridors and generous glazing to the classroom facades opens the teaching spaces up to their green surroundings and makes the most of the site’s special character.
