A project for The Girl’s Day School Trust, Notting Hill & Ealing High School is an Independent Day School for girls aged 4 to 18 and currently attracts 900 students. This was a complex new building and remodelling project carried out on a constrained and tight urban space, and within a live school environment. We undertook a curriculum analysis and accommodation review and developed the brief during stakeholder engagement sessions using option presentations and agreement of a preferred option. The safety implications of constructing the works to a phased programme with the school in continuing occupation were also discussed and resolved the stakeholder discussions.
The preferred design option included a new below ground four courts Sport England standard sports hall and changing facilities on the site of the original Assembly Hall and Gymnasium, a large flexible Assembly & Performance Hall with Backstage Area, a three-storey Foyer & Hub space, a 100 seat capacity Drama Theatre, a new All Weather Pitch and landscaped terraced courtyard. Significant remodelling and refurbishment works were also required within the existing Main Entrance Building with the reconfiguration of the existing main entrance, reception, library, and Portrait Room to form a clear, welcoming, light and open route leading to the new three storey Foyer & Hub space, and new extension. Thus reducing the potential overdevelopment of the small urban site and maintained overlooking restrictions to the adjacent dwellings. The new extension links the original three existing senior school buildings providing clear, spacious and level access throughout and improving internal circulation routes and travel times at lesson change.
This project shows the interpretation of the client brief using imagination, creativity and practicality and demonstrates the team’s steadfast determination to achieve the highest building quality, whilst extending a historic site in a sympathetic and controlled manner for a successful project outcome on a tight live school site.
Awards: Winner of the Ealing Civic Society Award 2014 and Istruct Award 2014
“It is hard to put into words how much this building, with its beautiful lines and finishes has transformed the school. I have always believed that the environment we work or learn in has a strong influence on behaviour and the building, with its beautiful lines and finishes has transformed the school.
Lucinda Hunt, Headteacher
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with EWA on the design, all that time giving attention to detail and choosing of finishes has paid off.
Thank you both for the time and trouble you took over our project and for you tact and understanding. But above all thank you for your fantastic design, we love it”
Lucinda Hunt, Headteacher
