Richmond-upon-Thames School & Sports Hall

ECE Architecture

Transforming Richmond’s educational landscape through a phased delivery of an elegant school building and dynamic sports hall, creating lasting community value.

We delivered this ambitious educational campus through a strategic phased development for Richmond-upon-Thames & Wandsworth Council. By addressing the borough’s growing pupil numbers and need for specialist provision, we’ve created a consolidated campus that houses three distinct school communities while maximising shared resources and community access.

Phase 1: Building educational excellence

Phase 1 focused on delivering a forward-thinking three-storey school building that reimagines the educational environment through its stepped superblock design. Wrapping 7,800m2 of accommodation around a dramatic triple-height atrium, this central heart space unites three schools – Richmond-upon-Thames School, Clarendon School, and Capella School – whilst maintaining their distinct identities and operational independence.

The specification of Gebrick, a panelised cladding system, accelerated construction whilst delivering exceptional quality. The thoughtful material palette of brick and cementitious panels creates visual hierarchy, reflecting Richmond’s architectural heritage whilst establishing a confident, contemporary presence near Twickenham’s iconic rugby venues. Strategic window placement and deep reveals respond to daylight requirements and mechanical ventilation needs, creating elevations that reflect the nature of spaces behind whilst supporting clear wayfinding and architectural hierarchy.

Phase 2: Innovative sports provision

The second phase posed a number of unique constraints that required creative problem-solving. A constrained site but a brief with ambitious spatial requirements meant we positioned the four-court sports hall at first-floor level, maximising space efficiency whilst meeting Sport England guidance.

The ground floor accommodates studios and changing facilities, whilst dual entrances enable independent community access during evenings, weekends, and holidays. This stacking arrangement transformed site limitations into design opportunities, delivering comprehensive sports facilities that serve both educational and community needs without compromise. The 594m2 sports hall supports multiple sports, including badminton, cricket, netball, basketball and volleyball, whilst also accommodating school assemblies, performances, and examinations. A multi-use space fit for the flexible needs of three schools.

Phase 3: Completion of the masterplan

The phasing concluded with the completion of two MUGAs, additional playground space and landscaping that extends the sporting facilities available for both school and community use. The final phase, realised upon the demolition of former college buildings, provides a 3G all-weather pitch catering for sports including rugby union, football and hockey.

Working with Richmond-upon-Thames Council and Willmott Dixon, we navigated complex stakeholder requirements through extensive consultation and pre-application discussions. The original vision for a joint college-school sports hall required complete reimagining when funding partnerships changed, demanding rapid design evolution whilst maintaining planning approval timelines. Our technical expertise enabled us to deliver all spatial and curriculum requirements within the constrained site whilst ensuring robust security strategies separated public and private zones.

Sustainability excellence permeates both phases, demonstrating our commitment to regenerative practice. The sports hall achieved BREEAM Excellent through integrated green roofs, photovoltaic panels, and air source heat pumps. Native landscaping across the campus enhances biodiversity, incorporating bug hotels and bird feeding stations alongside strategic tree planting that improves ecological corridors. SUDs drainage systems manage water sustainably, whilst energy-efficient LED lighting and low-flow fixtures minimise operational impact.

This transformative campus exemplifies architecture’s power to elevate educational experiences whilst strengthening community connections. Through innovative design, technical excellence, and collaborative delivery, we’ve created enduring spaces that will inspire learning for generations, establishing new benchmarks for educational architecture that demonstrate how vision and technical integrity create lasting value.