East Barnet School, London

This innovative new build four storey Secondary School in North London, incorporates several state of the art learning areas. This secondary school project posed several challenges due to its location on a sloping site with split-levels.Helping design the school was an inspiring and creative process. It is part of the Project Faraday initiative, incorporating several state of the art learning areas including the ‘drop zone’ – for testing gravity, flight and other scientific concepts – and the ’60 year clock’ a large exhibit structure requiring space and natural light. Other features included the striking feature walls, cantilevered above the building and internal sports hall and gymnasium spaces. The surface water system also added educational value, incorporating sustainable ‘swales’ and a ‘knowledge garden’ used as a learning aid for pupils. We proposed the use of lean post-tensioned floor plates enabling us to reduce material quantities, building loadings and allow clear open teaching spaces with minimal columns. A two storey, 18m wide auditorium was also created using post-tensioned transfer beams.