The new stand-alone 'International Performing Arts Academy' is in response to the brief to provide extra specialised teaching space at the school, due to both increasing numbers and the award of specialist status.
The existing campus was compact which meant that the only feasible site for the building was a grassed bank. This gave the form of a split level building to link the sports activities at the higher level to the rest of the school at the lower level and also formed a final formal side to the courtyard playground.
The overall design ethos was Sustainability and Energy Efficiency; from the windcatchers to provide natural ventilation to the Dance Studios, to the natural separation of the main spaces for acoustic performance.
This together with the site constraints developed the 3D form and appearance of the building.
