A new contemporary study centre in tribute to Jill Isaac, a former student who died in 2017. The building was generously donated in her honour by her husband Malcolm. The school’s upper sixth students use it as they prepare for their A levels and apply to competitive universities.
The building was designed to deliver an environment encouraging slow, thoughtful study and quiet reflection.
Located within the main school’s easternmost courtyard, this new contemporary building also houses its archive, showcasing items from its long history.
The building was proposed as a timber frame, as a sustainable alternative to say a steel structure.
The soft timber creates a contrasting material to the hard red brick surfaces of the surrounding school buildings. Using timber also allows the building to blend in and harmonise with a robust new landscaping scheme, creating a natural and leafy courtyard space for students and staff to enjoy.
Externally, the building consists of large Siberian larch columns, which rise upwards to support a domed zinc roof. Large sections of glazing between columns deliver soft light and views of landscaping to the building’s occupants. Vertical larch fins between the columns deliver solar shading to the glazed sections, reducing solar gain during the warmer months.
Internally, the circular plan delivers an intimate environment for users. Deep redwood columns around the perimeter create private booths. Here, fold-down desks have been fitted to allow students to study.
The internal redwood columns reach upwards towards the top of the dome before curving and interlocking to create a spiral and oculus at the very centre. Atmospheric cascading light is drawn down from the oculus and slowly tracks the room below throughout the day.
The school’s interactive archive is located within the new bespoke joinery in the entrance hall of the latest study centre. A contemporary conference table is centred within the main study space and is octagonal to reflect the central oculus above.
