Stoke Newington Sixth Form Centre | Jestico + Whiles

Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form is a successful inner city secondary school in Hackney, London with a specialism in media arts and science. It has been redeveloped as part of the Hackney Building Schools for the Future programme. The redevelopment comprises 20 per cent new build and 80 per cent refurbishment. The original building suffered from long term neglect, including poor ventilation, confusing circulation and limited disabled access and the design of the new and refurbished building provides modern and flexible learning spaces with a strong emphasis on design quality, innovation and sustainability. The three key new-build additions include a new entrance building of additional teaching accommodation, a dining hall, and a link at second floor level which resolved a number of circulation issues.

A new central ‘street’ running through the centre of the original school provides clearly defined circulation routes and simplifies the understanding of the original building layout, with the new dining hall at its heart. The new entrance building is a bold, three storey addition with a secure and welcoming entrance / reception and a landscaped entrance plaza. The building has been designed to integrate sympathetically with the original 1960s Brutalist architecture and to provide a contemporary feel. The cladding to the new entrance building is made of striking Cor Ten steel panels which provide robustness and complement the red brick and bush-hammered concrete of the original school building. The elevation features elegant offset strip windows raised above black glazed brick at the entrance.