Camden Centre for Learning
Providing an inspiring, safe and secure learning environment for students who have been excluded from mainstream schools or have special educational needs, was the primary aim for the London Borough of Camden.
Location
London, UK
Area
Key Stage 3 - 1468 sqm
Key Stage 4 - 1334 sqm
Status
Completed
Year
2015
Client
London Borough of Camden
Through the redevelopment and expansion of two Victorian school buildings on separate sites, Camden Centre for Learning has been realised, offering a specialist-learning environment for young people with social and emotional behavioural difficulties at Key Stage 3 and 4 learning years. Providing a safe and secure environment for all building users was critical, but equally the need for the finished school to not appear hostile or defensive, despite the many necessary interventions, which needed to be in place to protect users. The result has achieved a calm and modern learning environment with flexibility for future needs.
I was a student in both of the old buildings, but the new buildings are different, they feel like a normal school
KS4 Student, Camden Centre for Learning
Vision
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Design
Both sites have undergone extensive remodelling and refurbishment to update the buildings so that they answer the complex needs of the user group. Through the addition of complementary wings, Architype sensitively and successfully doubled the accommodation, to increase the care provided by the centre and multi-agency NHS team.
Careful restoration reveals the grandeur of the existing buildings whilst providing state-of-the-art facilities for students with interests in food technology, art and DT, science, and hair and beauty. Grand Victorian halls have been reopened for dining and sport, and previously dysfunctional spaces have been renovated to accommodate staff areas, classrooms, consultation and individual learning rooms.
Expertise
Project partners
Contractor
John Brown Construction Consultancy
Contractor
Buxton Building Contractor
Structural Engineers
Built Engineers
Quantity Surveyors
Gordon Hutchinson
M&E Engineers
Michael Popper Associates
Landscape Design
Katy Staton
Selected accolades
2015 Camden Design Awards
2015 AJ Retrofit Awards (Shortlisted)
Key data
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