Haydon School, Activity Hall, London

The completion of a new activity hall marks the 10th year of Nick Baker Architect’s involvement in the development of Haydon School, and the penultimate phase of a Masterplan developed in 2004.

Located in an infill site with a 3m level change between adjacent buildings, the hall is raised to provide valuable covered play area below and panoramic views over adjacent playing fields. Corridors wrap around the South and West of the hall, linking two separate wings of the school for the first time. This, alongside a new passenger lift to the West of the hall, greatly improves efficiency of circulation and provides covered access for wheelchair users.

Conceptual architectural hand drawing by Nick Baker Architects for a modern school hall scheme featuring wheelchair-accessible covered corridors and a raised structure.
Conceptual architectural hand drawing by Nick Baker Architects for a modern school hall scheme featuring wheelchair-accessible covered corridors and a raised structure.
Before-and-after spatial analysis diagram of Haydon school building layout, mapping the structural intervention strategy, integrated circulation paths, and massing updates to contrast existing versus proposed developments.

The hall and corridors are passively ventilated using ventilation towers, and extensive use of polycarbonate cladding provides diffuse natural light to deep within the hall whilst maintaining high thermal performance.

Before-and-after spatial analysis diagram of Haydon school building layout, mapping the structural intervention strategy, integrated circulation paths, and massing updates to contrast existing versus proposed developments.

A tactile and utilitarian approach was taken to materiality in response to strict budgetary constraints. Exposed blockwork and in-situ concrete are used extensively within the corridors and exposed plywood forms the rebound wall within the hall.

“Just as a quick thank you - I walked around the site this morning with Rob and Jayne and they were phenomenally impressed with the spaces that had been created. They are particularly excited about the undercroft”

- Richard Colwill

Haydon School, Activity Hall, London 2015–2015
Client: Governors of Haydon School
Project Status: Built
Budget: £2.5m

Team
Nick Baker Architects
Alyn O’Donnell

Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
Environmental Engineering Partnership
Structural Engineer
The Budgen Partnership
Quantity Surveyor
Synergy LLP


Next
Next

Haydon School. St Nicholas Building