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NEWS EDUCATION
Ackroyd Lowrie scheme to turn student halls into school approved
Planning permission was granted last month for the extensive retrofi t of a former university halls of residence – Atlantic House, St Albans Grove – into an “exemplary new junior school” for Thomas’s Day Schools within the De Vere Conservation Area in Kensington. Architects’ Ackroyd Lowrie has worked in partnership with property design and development fi rm, Finchatton, planning consultant, Savills and project managers, Silver to achieve planning consent. The design “sensitively ties together the
two historic buildings,” one of which is Victorian, the other mid 20th century, and “revitalises the character of St Albans Grove,” said the architects. The fi rm’s managing director, Jon Ackroyd commented: “The challenge was to provide a modern and safe learning environment, while respecting the existing character, and upgrading the fabric to achieve ambitious energy targets.” The design will provide a fi ve storey school comprising 23 teaching classrooms for pupils from reception to year six, soundproof music rooms, libraries, dining halls, assembly hall, reception, head’s offi ce, meeting/administration rooms, fl exible community spaces, and a planted roof garden. A light-fi lled central atrium will now be the main entrance to the school, and the introduction of stairs and a lift “will change the way the buildings are navigated.” A woodland-style “quiet learning garden” has been positioned nearest the neighbouring residential properties, while acoustic walls have been specifi ed to surround free play/sports areas.
APPOINTMENT
Senior promotion tops year of growth for GT3 interiors team
Charlotte Stone – part of the interior architecture team at East Midlands architecture fi rm GT3 Architects – has been promoted to the role of senior interior architectural designer, working alongside associate director Michael Simpson.
The interiors team has more than doubled in size in the last year, with eight staff now working on projects for clients including Everyone Active, Police Scotland, Karbon Homes and several major universities. Simpson said: “We’re delighted to promote Charlotte into this new role – it’s
indicative of both her own knowledge and expertise, and the growth in scale of projects we have been working on as an interiors team.” The department’s portfolio of work incorporates leisure, hospitality and entertainment, alongside its core strength in the workplace sector. Stone said: “Our team is made up not just of architects and interior architects, but also technologists and psychology specialists who help us focus on our core pledge of People Architecture – making spaces that are right for the people that use them.”
Images © Ackroyd Lowrie
The facade facing St Albans Grove will include a low brick plinth wall with natural stone coping, and will feature decorative railing “to remain sympathetic with neighbouring properties.” Existing listed trees are retained alongside the new roof garden, resulting in a biodiversity net gain of 21.73% over the current habitat value. Ackroyd concluded: “Our overall approach follows passive design principles and seeks to refurb the majority (93%) of Atlantic House’s existing area and retain its shell and part of the frame.” Work on Atlantic House is expected to begin later this year with the aim for staff and students to move in for the 2024/25 academic year.
Working on projects across the UK and overseas, GT3 Architects specialises in sport and leisure, masterplanning and workplace design as well as civic, residential, entertainment and education projects.
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ADF FEBRUARY 2023
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