Leytonstone School

jmarchitects worked with Leytonstone School from feasibility stage through to completion of the project on site in 2016. The project included the retention of a locally listed building, selective demolition and refurbishment of other blocks on the campus and the construction of a new mixed use teaching block together improved external social spaces.

Date

2016

Client

London Borough of Waltham Forest / Bouygues UK

Value

£10.7m

The school is located within a conservation area at the edge of Epping Forest. in 2008 jmarchitects began preparing an Outline Business Case for the school as part of the BSF programme. We were closely involved in the detailed consultation with teachers, governors, parents, pupils and the public. The scheme was shelved when the BSP programme was cancelled by the Government, however the Borough found alternative funding enabling the project to proceed.

The position of the new building and the landscaping were carefully considered as a masterplan to deliver maximum benefit to the school. The improved layout creates new play space, removes bottlenecks and designs our supervision black-spots. Carefully detailed changes in level ensure the site is fully accessible to all and leaves no unused space. The modern clean architecture mediates between the historic buildings on the site, the backdrop of Epping forest and the busy thoroughfare of James Lane.

The new multi use building creates 3015m2 of new floor area, providing 19 new classrooms, laboratories, workshops and studios for music and drama. A new dining area is created at ground floor wrapped in glazing to maximize views to the play areas, becoming a focal point for the social space.

Project gallery

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The Challenge

To regenerate the school campus to provide teaching and support spaces which will help the school deliver outstanding education in an inspiring school environment

The Solution

The design developed a site masterplan, re-using buildings where possible, demolishing those beyond repair and constructing a new building providing new teaching and support spaces within a reconfigured site.