Beaumont School

St Albans, Hertfordshire

Designcubed were briefed to deliver more classrooms, a new sports facility as well as conference facilities, community gym, and school reception. Eleven new classrooms have been provided: nine general teaching made light and airy with vaulted ceilings; two IT specialist rooms; and a conference room. The new 4 court sports hall includes: 5 lanes of cricket netting; 4 club standard badminton courts; and changing and storage facilities. Rather than demolish the original gym building it has been linked to the new building via a community entrance to provide a dedicated trampoline facility. An external amphitheatre has also been included to facilitate outdoor learning as well as working as an event space for outdoor performance.

Inspiration for this project was taken from the original 1930’s red brick school building. Traditionally, sports halls dominate in a complex of buildings, with a vast expanse of solid facades. Here the hall is cloaked by brick clad classrooms on two sides with the conference room at the front. Vertical oak timber cladding and Stone Grey render to soften the mix of materials further blends the building into the surrounding context.