revolutionary education building actively supports curriculum delivery
Education and construction are converging in bold new ways, with sustainable architecture increasingly being used as an extension of the curriculum itself. At Stowe School in Buckingham, this vision has been brought to life with the completion of a new £5.9m Design, Technology & Engineering (DTE) building, an award-winning project that seamlessly fuses cutting-edge timber engineering from B&K Hybrid Solutions with educational innovation. The project is explored here in full detail...
B&K Hybrid Solutions (BKHS) has played a pivotal role in the delivery of a new Design, Technology & Engineering (DTE) building at Stowe School – an inspiring and sustainable educational facility located within the historic, Grade I-listed grounds of Stowe House in Buckingham. Designed to support advanced robotics, manufacturing, and engineering education, the £5.9m project is redefining how a building itself can actively support curriculum delivery. On behalf of Beard Construction, BKHS was selected to deliver an
innovative timber solution, combining 108.237m³ of glulam beams, 2,042m² of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels, and 46 tonnes of ground- floor steel grillage. The expert project team included architect Design Engine, structural engineer Buro Happold, specialist timber engineer Engenuiti, and CLT manufacturer Stora Enso. The collaborative result is a visually expressive, low-carbon, two-storey facility that functions not only as a high-quality learning space but also as a living laboratory; with visual elements allowing students to explore and engage with the building’s engineering principles first-hand. Aligning with Stowe’s vision to become a leader in STEM education, the DTE building celebrates construction transparency. Exposed CLT and glulam structural elements are left purposefully exposed and visible throughout, with mechanical and electrical systems (including ductwork, pipework and cabling) colour-coded and surface-mounted, enabling students to observe and explore the inner workings of the building. The highly aesthetic quality of visual-grade timber, afforded by precision manufacturing, has been embraced as part of a broader biophilic approach that elevates both the learning environment and student wellbeing. The exposed elements left no margin for error, meaning that detailing, fabrication, installation sequencing and coordination had to be rigorously
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