St. Michael’s Primary School – Re-Modelling And Class-Base Extension

Key Facts:

Client Name: St. Michael’s Primary School | Diocese of Brentwood
Location: East Ham, London
Type of client: Education, Faith-led Primary
Discipline provided by M+C: Architectural Design | M&E Design | Quantity Surveying | Project Management
Value: £270,000
Contractors: MT Build
M+C Lead: Philip Ruffle

In line with modern teaching methods, and growth in the number of students, additional space through new classrooms, as well as the reconfiguration of existing space was required by St. Michael’s Primary School in East Ham.

An awkward layout within an existing teaching block, losing a significant amount of space to a staircase meant that a redesign of the existing space, as well as the inclusion of a new two-storey extension was required so as to make best use of the available floorplan.

To create additional space within the existing part of the building extensive re-modelling was undertaken, including the provision of a new entrance foyer, with a feature staircase (enabling the existing flight to be removed creating increased classroom space) to the first floor accommodation. The existing classrooms were fully refurbished.

The building was extended by way of a steel portal frame construction, creating two new classrooms over the two floors. The gable end is entirely glazed allowing vast amounts of daylight to flood the new teaching areas. The remainder of the new building is made up of a mixture of glazed and rendered finishes.

The work was programmed and delivered both in and out of term-time, and through careful planning, only one classroom was ever unavailable, minimising the cost and disruption to students of decamping them to alternative accommodation.

“Our new classrooms are fantastic, and the kids love it!”

Mrs McSweeney, Head Teacher