Harris Academy Sutton

The pioneering Harris Academy Sutton is the UK’s first Passivhaus secondary school. The new building forms the cornerstone of the London Cancer Hub, featuring world-class research and treatment facilities. With a special focus on the science disciplines, it aims to inspire scientists of the future and building links with employment partners to enhance student experience and support the transition to further education with university-style learning.

Location

Sutton, UK

Area

10,625 m2

Status

Completed

Year

2019

Client

London Borough of Sutton

Architype provided lead consultancy, architectural and principal designer services, working closely alongside contractor Willmott Dixon. The project demonstrated a ‘one-team ethos’ from start to finish, collaborating with the client, contractor and sub-contractors to ensure that ambitious environmental standards were met.

Natural materials including timber and copper act as structural and decorative touches on the impressive 10,625m2 space, evoking its leafy suburban setting. Historic trees have been retained and celebrated as part of the ecology-focused landscaping. The trees add maturity to the new school, contributing to the site’s biodiversity and creating a buffer between the building and its residential neighbours. The natural palette is enhanced with grey bricks for a striking yet sensitive vista.

Inside, Architype worked closely with educationalists to tailor the facility to the students’ needs, prioritising flexible spaces for the school’s growth. Classrooms and teaching accommodation span over four storeys, including 11 labs to suit the STEM school’s science-focused aspirations. A flexible demonstration lab will accommodate up to 60 students to encourage participation in extra-curricular research and national events such as British Science Week.

Architype led a committed design team that combined education and Passivhaus design expertise. This team continued successfully through the design development and construction stages, to deliver a very high performing building.

Adam Whiteley, Senior Project Manager, London Borough of Sutton

How we are building on 40 years of innovation to address the challenges of the future

Architype

What have we learned in 40 plus years of practice?

Architype Beyond 40

We have a proven track-record in delivering natural low-impact materials as part of mainstream solutions.

Natural Materials

How can natural, low-impact materials be effectively integrated into projects?

Innovating with Natural Materials

Vision

All vision

Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.

Add a Title

Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.

Add a Title

Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.

Design

Accommodating up to 1,275 students from age 11-18, Architype has developed a wayfinding strategy including connecting lightwells and coloured stairs to help pupils navigate the new space. Copper has been used as a visual separation for the areas of the building which are multi-use, serving the public as well as students. For example, the 715 m2 sports hall is clad almost entirely with copper and internally finished with exposed timber. The facility will be used by students as well as local residents after hours, contributing to the healthy living values of the wider site.

Classrooms are light and inspiring with optimised spatial orientation, the result of extensive daylight, noise, transport and ecology surveys conducted by Architype. Cross laminated timber roofs reflect the natural harmony of the building, with non-toxic materials providing exemplary air quality and environmental credentials. The central spine of the school has alternating wings and halls to provide an optimised massing. This dynamic layout maximises the site’s usable external areas with terraced seating and social courtyards, further adding to the knowledge sharing and ‘university campus’ feel of the scheme.

It really is a spectacular learning environment where our students will thrive academically and develop long-life interests and talents. I am also delighted that we are the country’s first Passivhaus standard secondary school and our whole school community is proud that we are leading the way when it comes to the environment

James Fisher, Principal

Expertise

Maximising daylight

Generous and well-controlled daylighting was an important consideration in the design process: bright, naturally-lit rooms help improve concentration and attainment in school environments, so our team worked hard to ensure this was applied throughout the school. This approach is particularly evident in the naturally lit timber sports hall.

Site context

Harris Academy Sutton forms the gateway to the London Cancer Hub, a site of world-leading scientific research. Commissioned to provide much-needed education space for the borough’s growing population, Sutton Council required enhanced sustainability from the new building, in line with its strong environmental goals.