PTAL - Architects

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Woodmansterne Secondary & Sixth Form

Client: Willmott Dixon

Services: Masterplanning, Delivery

PTAL was appointed by the London Borough of Lambeth following a competitive bid process led by the council to submit proposals to redevelop and expand two schools in Lambeth.
Arising from a need to cater for a growing school population across the Borough, both schools are funded by the Education Funding Agency, and delivered under a fast track design and construction process.
The proposals has been developed in collaboration with the senior management team, governing bodies and have involved the local community, staff and parents. The design for both schools not only to the schools’ educational needs and aspirations, but also responds to the wider urban context, and will both be an asset to their communities.

There had already been a feasibility study undertaken. However, we challenged various facets of the design proposals from the incumbent design team, on the basis that we felt there was an alternative solution that would mitigate significant risks around daylight/sunlight, rights of light and overlooking.
Our design proposals were not only preferred by the authority on being able to demonstrate an alternative proposal that was successful in mitigating these risks, but the school much preferred the design solution from an operational and architectural perspective.
This scheme has further adopted principles of standardisation, and a stackable building footprint that would lend itself to off-site construction, and also met the cost constraints imposed by the EFA programme.

The masterplan development provides an expansion of the existing school from a 2FE to 4FE, and makes provision for a new 6FE secondary school on the site. We identified at the outset that it was our clear task to work with this “Ofsted Outstanding” school to ensure their ethos which has clearly worked successfully for them is maintained, whilst expanding the building on an already constrained site.

We have successfully devised a masterplan that will add value through:

Providing a site that promotes sharing space as part of an All Thru School
Reduces the building area and therefore cost
Minimises the building footprint and maximises the external amenity area for the children
Providing educational opportunities through its internal and external environments
Improve visibility for the school in its community

PTAL have completed the new 6FE secondary school with Willmott Dixon & Faithful & Gould, following instruction by the L.B.Lambeth.

The project has since received three accolades including a Highly Commended award for Excellence in Architectural Technology at the CIAT AT Awards 2019.

Woodmansterne Secondary & Sixth Form

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