Issuu

Architects, Masterplanners, Heritage Consultants

Schools

Reinterpreting heritage and celebrating creativity, we craft sustainable, inclusive learning environments for inspiring educational experiences.

info@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 20 7379 7171 purcellarchitecture.com

Roden Centre for Creative Learning at the National Gallery in London, in collaboration with Lawson Ward Studio. Stowe Buckinghamshire Winner School, of Cultural Project of the Year in the AJ Architecture Awards 2025

CO N TENTS

Masterplanning & Estate Rationalisation Our masterplans recognise the uniqueness of every site and focus on envisioning their sustainable future in a changing world.

P11

Unlocking Potential & Securing Consents Our in-depth knowledge of and enthusiasm for the built environment enable us to set out the potential and value of heritage sites whilst conserving and enhancing their significance.

P17

Design-led Solutions Conservation and design are inseperable in our architecture. Guided by each site’s character and shaped by local communities, we create architecture that celebrates the past while serving a sustainable future.

Decarbonisation & Net Zero Reshaping and reusing our built heritage is vital to creating a more sustainable future and contributing to healthy, beautiful places.

P25

P39

Purcell developed a heritage-led masterplan for Reading School, balancing the sensitive intervention of listed buildings with new teaching, sports and social facilities designed to support the evolving needs of current and future pupils.

SCHOOLS

We craft inclusive spaces for inspiring learning experiences with sustainable futures. Purcell is an international practice of architects, masterplanners, and heritage consultants. Since 1947, we have been leading exemplary projects to protect, enhance, and evolve the world’s most significant historic places and listed buildings. From transforming outdated grammar schools to private schools with estates and historic buildings, we create and enhance high-quality educational environments that reflect a school’s culture and future ambition whilst preserving its individual ethos and heritage. We aim to not only realise our educational clients’ aspirations but to exceed them, designing buildings and learning spaces that inspire future leaders, foster creativity, and nurture all aspects of education. Our team of experts maximise a school’s development opportunities through considered masterplanning and building development which is sensitive to its unique site. We breathe life back into older buildings and design exceptional new facilities that complement historic ones. With our creative and holistic approach, we create the very best environments for the success and development of school students today. Purcell’s expertise in both architecture and heritage consultancy enables us to maximise opportunities through a careful assessment of each site and its history to create exquisite and cutting-edge school environments for our children’s future.

Fiona Lauchlan Head of Schools at Purcell

Key services

Architecture & Design New build, infill, intervention, repair. We work with our clients and their stakeholders to craft buildings and spaces that exceed their expectations, and to create places that are well-made, well-used and well-loved.

Masterplanning & Estate Strategy Our masterplans focus on envisioning a site’s sustainable future in a changing world. Through strategic thinking and close collaboration with our clients, we define and lead practical and realisable plans to achieve these goals.

Heritage Consultancy With expertise across a breadth of heritage types from archaeological assets to 20th century buildings, we combine rigorous research with thoughtful analysis to find collaborative solutions for our clients’ evolving needs.

Sustainability & Decarbonisation Heritage buildings are one of our most powerful assets in the constant struggle against climate change and biodiversity loss. Our approach is understanding the past in order to project forward into the future in the most positive way.

Conservation Architecture We understand the necessity of evolution. We set the benchmark of best practice, and helped shape policy and standards. We use this expertise to maximise value.

Building Surveying Each heritage building is unique. Our dedicated surveying team deliver focused, client-centred survey services that align with your priorities.

Regulatory Compliance & Approvals Understanding place forms the foundation of everything we do. Purcell is ranked number one for heritage in the World Architecture 100: a testament to our knowledge and capabilities working with listed buildings.

Project Leadership & Collaboration We lead complex projects through collaborative working, bringing together clients, stakeholders and specialist teams to deliver successful outcomes from inception to completion.

Masterplanning & Estate Rationalisation

Reading School Masterplan Carefully balancing listed heritage conservation with future-ready development, supported by Purcell’s expertise

SCHOOLS / MASTERPLANNING & ESTATE RATIONALISATION

Unlocking the full potential of a school through intelligent masterplanning.

We help schools make the most of their estates through intelligent, cost‑effective masterplanning that balances educational ambition with long‑term value. Working closely with school leaders, we develop practical, phased strategies that improve capacity, optimise existing buildings and unlock the full potential of the site without disrupting day‑to‑day school life. Our approach prioritises reuse, refurbishment and estate rationalisation, helping to spread investment over time while safeguarding heritage assets and reducing whole‑life costs. By carefully analysing how buildings and spaces are used, we identify opportunities to increase flexibility, support future educational needs and enable year‑round activity. This can include enhanced community use, lettable facilities and new income‑generating uses that strengthen financial resilience. Sustainability is integral to our thinking. Retaining and upgrading existing buildings reduces carbon impact while improving performance, supporting Net Zero ambitions and delivering long‑term operational savings. The result is a resilient, future‑ready campus that works harder for its school — educationally, environmentally and financially.

SCHOOLS / MASTERPLANNING & ESTATE RATIONALISATION

Malvern College Worcestershire

Working closely with the client, Purcell developed a 10year masterplan for Malvern College, enabling estate rationalisation while supporting growth, diversification and a pathway to Carbon Net Zero. Through engagement workshops and on-the-ground observation, we captured the College’s ethos, pedagogy and ambitions, then tested three masterplan options against a baseline The preferred strategy unlocks capacity within existing buildings, repurposes underused spaces, targets sustainable fabric upgrades and delivers operational efficiencies and cost savings - strengthening the academic offer while enhancing commercial potential.

Plan

T UR N R ES EA R C H & I DEAS I N TO A M AST ER PL A N

Develop

Discover

U ND ERSTAND IN G PLACE & HOW YOU U SE SPAC E

D E S IG N OP T ION S TOG E T H E R

Our masterplanning process begins with discovery, building a clear understanding of user needs and the character of the place. We develop and test options, refining these into a final masterplan, working collaboratively with the client throughout.

“The key ingredient for the campus masterplan was an initial clear client vision. The development of the [final vision] was aided by Purcell’s extensive knowledge and understanding of the operational imperatives in schools which was invaluable. Purcell has translated our vision into an imaginative masterplan that clearly reflects the school’s vision and our operational requirements. Their sensitive and pragmatic approach was achieved through a series of Purcell-led workshops with the client team, reinforcing our confidence in their service.” PAUL JOCHIM SEN, HE AD OF E STAT E S , G RE S H AM’S S C HO O L

SCHOOLS / MASTERPLANNING & ESTATE RATIONALISATION

Gresham’s School Norfolk

Purcell is working with Gresham’s School to develop and deliver a phased masterplan for the reorganisation and extension of their nursery and pre-prep school premises. This highly regarded independent school has projected a significant increase in admissions over the coming years and required the masterplan to address the inefficiencies in the existing listed buildings, access issues and safeguarding concerns. In response, we developed a series of sensitive new build extensions as well as site-wide reorganisation of vehicular access and car parking.

Unlocking Potential & Securing Consents

SCHOOLS / UNLOCKING POTENTIAL & SECURING CONSENTS

Across the globe, our research, knowledge and advice unlocks potential at complex and sensitive historic sites.

Our heritage and conservation research underpins intelligent, adaptable school development. Through robust analysis, practical advice and early engagement with planning authorities, we help clients unlock the potential of existing buildings and sites. Our education sector experience creating engaging spaces for learning, allows schools and community groups to access history, culture, and nature in inspiring environments. Our expertise identifies constraints and opportunities, shaping proposals that respect heritage significance while supporting contemporary educational needs. We guide sensitive interventions, from strategic options appraisals and masterplans to detailed design support, reducing risk and adding clarity to the planning process and other statutory consents. By aligning educational ambition with heritage value, we enable positive change, sustainable reuse and long-term resilience for schools and their communities across varied contexts, budgets and regulatory environments.

SCHOOLS / UNLOCKING POTENTIAL & SECURING CONSENTS

Stowe House Buckinghamshire

Since 1999, Purcell has been leading a phased multimillion pound Strategic Restoration programme at Grade I listed Stowe House, Buckinghamshire – one of the finest 18th century classical buildings in Europe. Since leading the site masterplan, we have delivered successive phases that restore and modernise key spaces - including the library, music rooms, dining hall, as well as major external fabric repairs - ensuring the house can effectively function as a school and visitor destination. Our exemplary conservation and maintenance work to the stonework façades and historic lead roofs has won numerous international awards, safeguarding the future of this classical masterpiece and enabling its removal from the Historic England Heritage At Risk register.

“Purcell has been adept at responding to funding issues, assisting the client in value engineering discussions and tailoring project timescales to ensure a high quality outcome within budget and time constraints.” NI CK M ORRIS, CEO, STOW E H OU S E P RE S E RVAT I O N T R UST

AWARDS

The Georgian Group Architectural Award Won The Georgian Group Award Won The Georgian Group Awards: Outstanding Achievement Won Country Life: Restoration of the Century Won RIBA South Won

2023 2021 2012 2010 2007

“Purcell has been intimately engaged throughout this very complex and challenging programme. Their skills and expertise may best be judged through the growing list of outcomes which are I suggest simply world-class.” AND REW FA N E OBE , C H AIR, STOW E H OU S E PR ES ERVAT I O N T R UST

completed conservation and repair Charterhouse School Purcell works to the Grade II* listed Memorial Chapel at Charterhouse School. As the largest war Surrey memorial in the UK, the chapel remains a vital

place of reflection for the school community and a landmark of national remembrance. Detailed surveys revealed several areas needing urgent attention, including water egress from roof defects around porches and parapets, and significant stone deterioration, notably a major structural crack at the west end. Our approach combined technical understanding with conservation sensitivity, ensuring repairs improved stability without compromising historic character.

SCHOOLS / UNLOCKING POTENTIAL & SECURING CONSENTS

Design-led Solutions

SCHOOLS / DESIGN-LED SOLUTIONS

We aim to not only realise our educational clients’ aspirations but to exceed them, designing buildings and learning spaces that inspire future leaders, foster creativity, and nurture all aspects of education.

Creating positive impact by mentoring and collaborating with students, staff, and communities throughout every stage of our projects is integral to our design approach. New build, infill, intervention, repair. We work with our clients and their stakeholders to craft buildings and spaces that exceed their expectations, and to create places that are well-made, well-used and well-loved. Knowing how things are made is essential to understanding how to repair, restore or re-design modern equivalents. As designers we deploy the full spectrum of craft-based and digital processes, feeling equally at ease working with stonemasons and chisels, paper and pens, digital design tools, and BIM. With over 75 years’ experience, we understand the inevitability of constant change and the necessity of evolution. We have set the benchmark of best practice, and helped shape policy and standards. We use this expertise to maximise value.

SCHOOLS / DESIGN-LED SOLUTIONS

Radley College Chapel Oxfordshire

Our major extension to the Grade II* listed Radley College Chapel increased its capacity and secured its longterm role as the spiritual and cultural heart of the school. Working closely with the College and a specialist design team, we delivered a scheme that respects T.G Jackson’s original 1893 design while producing a building that is fit for purpose for future generations. With a 30% increase in capacity, the Chapel remains a key focus of college life. Early, sustained consultation successfully navigated planning and listed building consent, engaging the local authority, Historic England, the Victorian Society and Oxford Preservation Trust. The multi-award-winning project combines architectural sensitivity with technical innovation. The highly detailed design was coordinated in BIM and delivered through close collaboration between the design team, contractor and client, with local craftsmanship used wherever possible.

“The chapel extension is a testament to the power of good design and the role that architecture can play in creating inspiring and functional spaces.” R I BA JOU RNAL

SELECT AWARDS

RIBA National Award Won 2023 RIBA South Building of the Year Won 2023 RIBA South Conservation Award Won 2023 World Architecture Festival Awards Shortlisted 2023 Brick Awards: Supreme Winner Won 2022

“Purcell are known for exceptional and imaginative work on heritage buildings and their design for our Chapel extension reinforced this reputation. The detailing and execution were outstanding under the most trying of circumstances and it is a building we are immensely proud of.” DAVI D AND ERSON, ESTAT E S BU RSAR, RAD LE Y C OLL EG E 26

SCHOOLS / DESIGN-LED SOLUTIONS

Stamford Endowed Schools Lincolnshire

Purcell was appointed as architects and heritage consultants to deliver the Wothorpe Sports Centre for Stamford Endowed Schools. Stamford School has a proud tradition in sport and has produced many athletes and teams who have excelled at county, regional, and national level across a broad range of sports. It is a highly valued part of school life and the school had a desire to enhance their sporting offer with a new stateof-the-art sports centre. The new facility sits alongside two new all-weather hockey pitches, and includesa new dance studio and gym, along with associated changing spaces.

“Purcell proved to be an exceptional partner during the design and planning process of the new Sports Centre. Their diligence in creating a design that met our specific needs and requirements was impressive. Their team’s expertise and attention to detail helped ensure the success of the project.” STEWA RT D OREY, D IRE C TOR OF E STAT E S , STAM F O R D EN DOWED S C HO O L S

Decarbonisation & Net Zero

SCHOOLS / DECARBONISATION & NET ZERO

For over 75 years, Purcell has advocated for the protection of what we have by intertwining heritage conservation with sustainable posterity. Our approach has always been one of creative custodianship - learning from the rich history of the buildings we work with and innovatively imagining ways to ensure their long-term enjoyment, accessibility and functionality for future generations. Heritage buildings are one of our most powerful assets in the constant struggle against climate change and biodiversity loss. By preserving and prolonging the life of our existing buildings, we are protecting our natural resources by making use of what we have. Furthermore, historic approaches to constructing buildings and our modern methods of conserving them are influencing the way we design new interventions to ensure we have minimum impact on our environment. We strongly believe heritage buildings should not be seen as a barrier to a sustainable and equitable future. In recognition of this, we have been at the forefront of delivering pioneering researchand guidance for energy efficiency retrofits in heritage buildings. By combining our heritage and sustainability expertise, we deliver practical and innovative solutions that balance conservation with climate responsibility and contribute specialist expertise to help clients plan, prioritise, and implement effective carbon reduction measures.

SCHOOLS / DECARBONISATION & NET ZERO

Smithdon School Norfolk

Smithdon School is a Grade II* listed icon of New Brutalist architecture, celebrated for its bold, experimental design. Pioneering construction methods, including early double glazing, pushed boundaries but also created lasting challenges, from overheating to failing fabric and poor environmental control. Purcell’s Conservation Architects are working within the design team to resolve these inherent issues and secure the building’s future. Our Heritage Consultants and Conservation Architects carried out detailed surveys of the existing buildings informing proposals that improve the performance of the external façade, through window and glazed panel replacements. These fabric-first upgrades, decarbonisation and modern building systems improve performance, comfort and resilience. Our balanced approach to adaptive reuse, refurbishment and selective redevelopment, developed through close stakeholder collaboration, ensures school supports education.

“Smithdon High School is one of the most significant works of modern heritage in the world, yet at its heart, it is a working school that has served its community for over 70 years. Reconciling its status as both an architectural icon and a place of education has been a welcome challenge.” JO N WRIGHT, TW E N T IE T H C E N T U RY H E RITAG E C O N S ULTA N T, PUR C EL L

SCHOOLS / DECARBONISATION & NET ZERO

Cheltenham Ladies College Gloucestershire

Purcell is designing a world‑leading Sixth Form Centre for Cheltenham Ladies’ College, unlocking educational potential within this historic campus. The project adapts and reuses an existing Grade II listed building through careful refurbishment and redevelopment to create an inspiring, low‑carbon hub for Sixth Form life. Net zero ambitions drive the design, integrating passive strategies and efficient MEP service upgrades. The Centre provides a confident transition between school and higher education, fostering maturity, belonging and intellectual curiosity within a distinctive, collegiate setting.

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Architects, Masterplanners, Heritage Consultants

WEST

EAST

Fiona Lauchlan

Peter Buist

Partner, Head of Schools

Regional Partner

BSc BArch (Hons) RIBA

BA (Hons) MArch PgDip RIBA

fiona.lauchlan@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 117 910 1060 +44 (0) 7583 091 126

peter.buist@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 1223 357057 +44 (0) 7769 695 162

NORTH

LONDON & SOUTH-EAST

ASIA PACIFIC

John Piercy Holroyd

Jim McKinney

Steve Phillips

Associate Partner

Partner

BA (Hons) Arch ARB RIBA

BArch (Hons) DipArch (Cantab) RIBA ARB

BA (Hons) MArch PgDip RIBA

john.piercyholroyd@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 161 300 7747 +44 (0) 7581 017 370

jimmckinney@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 20 7397 7171 +44 (0) 7958 622 030

steve.phillips@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 1223 357057 +44 (0) 7769 695 162

OUR GLOBAL REACH

Studio map 39

info@purcelluk.com +44 (0) 20 7379 7171 purcellarchitecture.com

Purcell is an international practice of architects, masterplanners, and heritage consultants. Since 1947, we have been leading exemplary projects to protect, enhance, and evolve the world’s most significant historic places and listed buildings. Inspired by a deep understanding of context, we craft the identity of the unique places in which we work by cherishing their heritage. Today we are a team of over 350 in studios across the UK and Asia Pacific. With a spirit that is genuinely innovative and collaborative, we are focused on planet-positive design, championing adaptive reuse of our existing built environment over new construction. We pioneer a conservation-led approach that celebrates our past and responsibly considers the legacy we will leave for future generations. Reimagining heritage in new ways, we work to facilitate positive change for our clients, communities, and wider society by shaping vital, inclusive, and joyful spaces where people can belong. As the world’s largest team of heritage specialists, Purcell has an outstanding reputation defining conservation management plans and conservation and restoration strategies, and delivering multiple award-winning conservation repair, creative design, and sustainable reinvention projects to listed buildings and historic places around the world. Projects include some of the UK’s most significant visitor attractions, royal palaces, country house estates and castles and ruins across the UK and beyond. We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation®, ranked No.1 for Heritage in the World Architecture 100, and recognised for creating places that celebrate heritage while making space for new stories to unfold.