Design process
Hampden Gurney School shows how - with a bit of imagination, a site can be used to fund and build a new school. The school trustees approached a developer to see how the site could be best developed to include a new school. The potential to exploit the site's urban grain to the full, with a dense development, incorporating residential apartments as well as the school, was accepted. A vertical form for the school was an integral part of the development to maximise the residential element of the scheme. A design/develop/build form of procurement was chosen with the architects being responsible for the design element.
The developer helped the trustees to draw up a shortlist of three architectural firms who were subject to a competitive interview by the school trustees in 1995. The architects were appointed and enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with the trustees. They provided the complete design package of architect, structural and services engineer, quantity surveyor, landscape and lighting design. When the original developers pulled out of the project the trustees asked the architects to assist them in choosing another developer and from a shortlist of six Jarvis were chosen.
There was a long negotiation period with the planning department, Department of Education and the local education authority, primarily centred on the 11% reduction of playground space. Eventually the requirements for external play were waived because of the school's urban location, and in recognition of the unusual nature of the design. Three years later, in October 1998, planning approval was granted by Westminster City Council. Construction began in July 2000 and the school was opened in the spring term of 2002.
The money released from the site sale for the housing was used to fund the redevelopment of the school. The project was phased so that the original school could continue to function during the construction period. The school trustees hold the freehold of the whole site and are thus ensured a ground rent income. The school cost £6m to build and the residential development £18m.
