PROJECT: Newham BSF - Brampton Manor School

LOCATION: Newham

DATE: 2007 - present

Brampton Manor School is London Borough of Newham's first BSF (Building Schools for the Future) project and is due to be completed in phases by summer 2010.

The proposal is to provide professional facilities to promote the school's specialist arts status. These will include a state-of-the-art theatre/auditorium; dance and drama spaces; new TV/audio studios and media editing suite; a new fitness suite; a reorganised and enhanced inclusion area; and classrooms for design/technology, art and ICT. The scheme also includes two new glazed double-storey circulation links in the west and east courtyards. As well as improving movement and interaction of students around the school, the circulation links provide areas for artworks extending to the courtyard landscaping.

The works being carried out by local construction firm, Jerram Falkus, include extensive remodelling of parts of the existing school dating back to the 1960s, with new interiors and cladding creating dramatised façades to promote the new facilities and extensive landscaping.

On the consortia (headed by Laing O'Rourke) winning the bid, Edward Cullinan Architects' proposals were concluded by the judges as "inspirational and uplifting". The Peforming/Arts zone has now opened to great acclaim by the school and the authority and is already having a positive impact on the behaviour and learning of the students.