Park Hall Academy

The 8-form entry school occupies a sloping site with excellent distant views. Three classroom wings exploit the views and define varied external play spaces.

These teaching wings house general classroom facilities and science laboratories. They are connected by a cranked spine housing the more public and specialist facilities.

At ground and first floor levels, the spine is hinged by three exciting double height spaces: the entrance hall, the assembly hall, and the dining hall that form the heart of the building.

They create a series of dramatic spaces that are visually and physically linked to each other, to the external courtyards with their overhanging canopies and to the landscape beyond.

Circulation routes

Circulation has been planned to avoid long dark disorientating routes. The large double height entrance and café form part of the route around the school and help minimise the extent of corridors. Where these do exist, windows offer views out and some are opened up into daylight-filled harbours or 'faculty open areas' which can be used for breakout teaching or social gathering. Colour has been used to aid wayfinding as well as to enliven space.

Adaptability

The school was originally designed to accommodate a 'schools within schools' organisational model, but the adaptability of the design was demonstrated when it had to be rearranged as a departmental organisation to suit a changed educational regime.

The new buildings have had a huge impact on students’ learning... something to be very proud of.
Tony Morrison, Principal

Our Team

  • Simon Cambridge
  • Raymond Cheung
  • Joanna Day
  • Nicholas Hare
  • Darren Jones

Project Team

  • Client: Solihull Borough Council
  • Structural Engineer: Gifford Consulting Engineers
  • Services Engineer: Hoare Lea
  • Landscape Architect: Fira
  • Acoustician: SRL
  • Fire Engineer: Hoare Lea
  • Contractor: BAM
  • Photography: Alan Williams

Awards

  • Winner: Excellence in BSF Awards - Best New School Design
  • Shortlisted: Excellence in BSF Awards - Innovation in Sustainability

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