Burntwood School by AHMM

Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London, was presented at the AT Awards live finals on 20 September 2023 to a jury comprising Sunand Prasad, Marion Baeli, Chris Bicknell, Heather Topel, Hanif Kara, and Chair Catherine Burd. Read about how the project has stood the test of time.

Completed
2014

AHMM’s redevelopment of Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London, comprises six educational buildings-as-pavilions, the retention and refurbishment of the main assembly hall and the swimming pool and gymnasium building (both designed by Leslie Martin), as well as new landscaping. Overall, the scheme has increased the school’s capacity by more than 200 pupils to 2000, in addition to 200 staff.

The classrooms and ancillary accommodation within the pavilions are arranged along a central corridor with voids and double-height spaces at each end to maximise daylighting and outdoor connection. Visually-striking, faceted concrete façade panels correspond to a 7.5 metre structural and classroom module, while also complementing the school’s modernist heritage.

Credit: Timothy Soar

A range of facilities, including the sports centre and assembly hall, double as community resources out of school hours, while the general teaching spaces and learning support functions are available on a managed basis for adult learning. The structural grid and services design provide flexibility, which has already been implemented, with two meeting rooms off the library being adapted to a SEN (special educational needs) resource base for young people with SEMH (social emotional mental health) needs.

Energy efficiency is central to the scheme, with the exposed thermal mass of the concrete structure forming a key component of the mixed-mode ventilation strategy, and the impervious nature of the concrete façade panels helping to achieve an airtightness of 2.53m3/h.m2 @ 50PA. The panels themselves include 20 per cent GGBS (ground granulated blast slag) cement replacement, and reduce waste through the use of off‐site manufacturing.

Helen Dorfman, former Principal of Burntwood School said, ‘We wanted a scheme that reflected the school’s history but was also forward looking, innovative and exciting. We believe that our new buildings deliver on this vision.’