3 minute read
Celebrating 30 Years of the Leonardo Centre
A home for creativity at Uppingham
When the award-winning Leonardo Centre opened its doors in 1995, it marked a bold new chapter in Uppingham’s history of creative innovation. Thirty years on, the building remains not only one of the School’s most distinctive architectural landmarks, but also a thriving hub of imagination, expression and design.
A Pioneering Spirit
Uppingham has long been at the forefront of creative education. In 1966, it became the first school in the country to bring art, crafts and technology together under one roof with the opening of The Thring Centre. This pioneering move quickly influenced other schools, and contributed to the inclusion of crafts, design and technology (CDT) in the national curriculum.
Yet, while The Thring Centre was ground-breaking, art and design at Uppingham were still dispersed across a woodworking shop and a modest Art School – spaces fondly remembered but often described as cramped, dimly lit and scattered around the campus. The vision for a new, unified home for creativity began to take shape.
The Birth of the Leonardo Centre
Thirty years later, that vision became reality. After extensive consultation with leading architectural practices, OU Piers Gough (WB 59) was commissioned to design a state-of-the-art building that would bring together art, design, technology and crafts under one roof.
His design was both innovative and inspiring. Flooded with natural north light – the preferred illumination of artists – the Centre’s dramatic sloping glass façade created an inspiring and more immersive environment for Uppingham’s creative pupils to thrive in. An industrial-style steel structure and mezzanine floor space introduced flexible, modern teaching areas, while the entrance hall doubled as a professional exhibition space.
The building was officially opened in November 1995 by Dr the Honourable Sir David Li Kwok Po (H 54), marking the beginning of a new era for creativity at Uppingham.
Three Decades of Creative Excellence
Since then, the Leonardo Centre has stood as a testament to Uppingham’s commitment to innovation. Pupils have benefited from the unique opportunities that arise when different artistic disciplines are taught side by side, inspiring collaboration and creativity.
To mark its 30th anniversary, on 8th November, a special OU Exhibition was held, which showcased the extraordinary breadth of creative talent amongst OUs. From painting and graphic design to jewellery, fashion, millinery and photography, the exhibition reflected not only the diversity of artistic expression, but also the enduring influence of the Leonardo Centre on the lives and careers of Uppinghamians.
The new front elevation of the Leonardo Centre was completed in 2014 as part of the Western Quad development.
Looking Ahead
As the School celebrates this milestone, the Leonardo Centre continues to embody Uppingham’s founding ethos: that creativity, in all its forms, is central to education and to life. Its striking architecture and inspiring spaces remain a catalyst for ideas, experimentation and innovation.
Photographs and stories from the OU Exhibition can be explored via the QR code, linking to our extended coverage online.
