Improving the built environment for pupils and the wider community
Named after the UK’s first female education minister, Ellen Wilkinson School in West London continues to inspire girls and young women with her legacy of female achievement.
This elegant new entrance building is a welcoming gateway to the Ellen Wilkinson School campus which enhances its suburban surroundings in relationship to the nearby conservation area in the London Borough of Ealing. To create a visual harmony and memorable sense of space, the Entrance Building draws upon the architectural language of the Library Resource Centre, which we also designed, forming the second phase of the school’s developmental masterplan.
The two-storey building has been designed to accommodate future increases in pupil and staff numbers. The ground floor incorporates the school reception, informal teaching areas, and a bright exhibition space. Coloured glass animates the spaces within and a simple palette of materials—stone, concrete, and glass—provide an elegant backdrop where student work can shine. On the upper floor, there is a mixture of private, 1- to 2-person staff offices and open-plan working areas to accommodate their varying needs. Large, open-plan meeting rooms offer flexible spaces, and several other smaller meeting rooms work for smaller workshops.
Extensive use of glazing allows students, visitors, and passers-by a welcoming glimpse into the activities within. And on darker days when the lights are on, the building acts as a beacon of learning and discovery to the wider community.
At a Glance
- Offices
Aaron Taylor, Senior Principal, Education Sector Lead
There is no greater complement as an architect than seeing students thriving in their surroundings, in spaces that have learning and enjoyment at their heart.
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