INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Experience

• Ashville College, Harrogate• Bedford High School for Girls• Bilton Grange School• Brooke Priory School, Oakham• Hatherop Castle School• Kimbolton School• King’s Ely• Leicester High School for Girls• Lincoln Minster School• Loughborough Endowed Schools• Maidwell School• Millfield School, Street• Oakham School• Oundle School• Pitsford School• Pottersbury Lodge School• Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital, Bristol• Rugby School• Sedbergh School• Sherrardswood School• St. Peter’s School, Kettering• Stamford Endowed Schools• The Fountain School, Bradford• The Princess Helena College, Hitchin• The Red Maid’s School, Bristol• Wellingborough School• Winchester House School, Brackley

Introduction

Founded in 1879, making us one of the longest established architectural practices in the country, GSSArchitecture have developed into a national practice, with offices in Kettering, Gloucester and Harrogate.

We are Chartered Architects, Lead Consultants, Quantity Surveyors and Principal Designers, and can also provide an all-encompassing design team solution for our clients. We are a dynamic, forward thinking practice that delivers innovative solutions, from initial concepts and masterplanning through to delivery and completion.

GSSArchitecture has acquired a significant amount of knowledge and experience of education projects, and developed long-standing working relationships with many Independent Schools. We have designed a wide range of facilities for this sector, including Swimming Pools and Fitness Centres, state-of-the-art IT and Teaching Facilities, Performing Arts Centres and Boarding Houses, providing students with the perfect environment and resources to achieve their full potential.

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Architectural Services

We offer a full architectural design service from the preparation of initial indicative sketch schemes through to undertaking the role of Contract Administrator whilst works are on site.

This includes the preparation of outline and detailed planning applications, together with supporting applications for listed building consent, etc. and developing designs through working drawings and specification preparation in order for tenders to be obtained.

We are not wedded to one architectural style, designing to each brief, whether this is to suit a vernacular, a function or a budget; every one of our designs is individually developed to the needs of a specific client.

Quantity Surveying

We are able to offer a Quantity Surveying service either as an add-on to our architectural service or as a stand-alone service, including offering the preparation of traditional Bills of Quantity.

Our Quantity Surveyors are experienced in preparing indicative budget estimates on limited information at an early stage in the project process, and are able to develop these estimates into detailed cost plans as the design evolves. We also work with our clients in preparing business plans to test the viability of a project at an early stage, whether this relates solely to the building or working with our clients on a holistic business-case issue.

Our Quantity Surveyors also work proactively with clients in the development of Risk Registers, Value Management Strategies and Change Management Procedures.

Masterplanning

A well considered masterplan is the key to creating and maintaining a dynamic and inspiring campus environment which reinforces the client’s position in an ever increasing competitive market. It also demonstrates an efficient use of the site and resources, providing a robust case for funding and planning.

GSS has significant experience in masterplanning for education, including Independent Schools. The critical first step in our role is acquiring an understanding of the existing environment, together with an in-depth awareness of the client’s needs and aspirations.

Once armed with this detailed knowledge, GSS has the resources and ability to fully explore all options available and to deliver a long-term framework to our clients for the continued development of their campus.

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Lead Consultant

Having in-house Project Managers, we are also able to fulfil the role of Lead Consultant.

With a strategic supply chain network in place, we can readily appoint and manage a full design team on behalf of any client, and have a significant successful track record of delivering buildings as a team.

Alternatively, we can lead and manage a team appointed directly by any client, establishing communication streams to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Heritage and Conservation Architect

We have a great deal of experience of repairing, conserving, altering and adding to historic buildings of varying ages, ranging from medieval to twentieth century.

Projects vary from schools, castles, churches, palaces, court houses and hospitals to private dwellings, and changes of use are often also involved.

The works range from very minimal, in the form of repairs to parts of historic fabric, to multi million pound refurbishments with significant modern interventions.

Discussion with the various conservation bodies is a key part of the process and we have experience of dealing with many different authorities. We start with feasibility discussions and finish on completion of the construction work.

Employer’s Agent

As Employer’s Agents, we work with our clients to ensure Contractor’s Proposals are developed in accordance with the Client’s Requirements.

Our Employer’s Agent service combines all of our Architectural, Lead Consultant and Quantity Surveying services to provide our clients with a full Design and Build Management service, including assistance with Housing Quality Indicators and various Grant Applications.

Kimbolton School: Dining Hall

GSSArchitecture were appointed as Architects to design a new dining hall extension for Kimbolton Boarding School: it comprises a courtyard infill extension to the Mews Building, that dates from around 1870, and which houses both music rehearsal rooms and the main school dining hall. The design provides additional seating and a new kitchen servery, which has significantly relieved the pressure previously experienced by the school at lunch times.

Key elements of the design include a front façade of high-performance frameless structural glazing, a lead-effect roof containing a glazed clerestory, and reinstatement of two chimneys to the gable walls either side of the clock tower.

Location: Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire

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King’s Ely: The Old Bishop’s Palace

The Old Bishop’s Palace is Grade I listed and dates back to the 15th century, with significant extensions in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Most recently used as a hospital, GSSArchitecture were appointed as Architects to design its conversion, alteration and extension, with the initial phase of work consisting of repairs to the external fabric. The second phase comprised stripping out the medical equipment and conversion of the historic parts to create a Sixth Form Centre, central administration and accommodation for Choral Scholars. The later, single storey part of the building has been converted to form a new girls’ boarding house.

Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire

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Stamford Endowed Schools: Sports Centre

Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire

Stamford School was originally founded in 1532 in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Today, it is part of the Stamford Endowed Schools, a leading independent group of three schools for boys and girls aged 2-18.

As part of the ongoing masterplan exercise to restructure the site and consolidate library/research, sports and performing arts facilities in separate locations around the School campus, a new, purpose-built sports centre was designed by GSSArchitecture, incorporating a 25m indoor pool, changing rooms for the pool and outdoor sports, a fitness suite, and a gymnasium, along with sheltered spectator terraces.

Stamford Endowed Schools: Atrium

Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire

Stamford School appointed GSSArchitecture to produce a site-wide masterplan to locate library/research, sports and performing arts facilities in separate areas of the campus. Consequently, the library/research space is now located within a heavily refurbished series of Victorian school buildings. The facilities centre on the provision of computer workstations formed by bespoke furniture, and the library features custom-made shelving, all designed by GSSArchitecture.

The centrepiece of the design is a fully-glazed atrium, which was formed by linking two separate historic buildings to create a dramatic and contemporary space. This acts as a formal entrance to the School’s main hall and is a distinct part of the School’s visual identity.

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Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital: The Pit 6th Form

QEH commissioned GSSArchitecture to design a modern Sixth Form Centre within the former boarding bathrooms and adjacent derelict tower. The design process included extensive consultation with English Heritage and the Local Planning Authority to develop and agree the design prior to the submission of formal planning and listed building applications. The new facilities include private study areas, common room, IT suite and café dedicated to Sixth Formers, but with one of the school’s key focuses being on pastoral care, integration of the Sixth Form into the existing school was also important. The project was designed and constructed to a very high standard, with the use of high quality materials and craftsmanship, to provide a modern and robust facility.

Location: Bristol

Laxton Junior School aims to provide the best possible preparatory education through its caring pastoral system and broad academic curriculum. When the governing body recognised the need to expand, the school appointed GSSArchitecture to design a two storey building which was innovative and of a simple, compact nature. All facilities sit under a curved roof with exposed steel framework. The building houses 14 classrooms, IT, art, music and multimedia facilities, as well as a large multi-purpose sports hall. The design of the building received an RIBA commendation.

In 2012 GSSArchitecture won a competition for the design of a new sports centre for Pitsford School, to provide better facilities for a school that prides itself on its sporting accomplishments. Whilst the original scheme never went to site, the relationship that was forged through winning the competition allowed GSSArchitecture to work with the school on a second scheme for a sports centre that would require a shorter fundraising period, allowing the facilities to be provided to the pupils much sooner, with the site completion date targeted at early 2016.

A state-of-the-art flexible studio space was designed by GSSArchitecture for Stamford High School, Lincolnshire, following the refurbishment of their former lecture theatre.

The Ancaster Studio now features retractable seating for 112 people, together with a computerised lighting rig. The seating was produced by Audience Systems, who provided the seating for Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and can be erected in just seven minutes.

Laxton Junior School

Pitsford School Sports Centre

Stamford Endowed Schools

GSSArchitecture designed a Science Suite for Leicester High School for Girls, which included a state-of-the-art suite of classrooms and laboratories. The scheme comprised a new two-storey building to provide a range of teaching facilities for the sciences and ICT, and included five new classrooms, an art suite and a new reception and display area on the ground floor, and six laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology, together with a language laboratory, on the first floor.

The front elevation of the new building was designed to sympathetically match the exterior of the existing main building, and paid close attention to sustainability, which included a green roof, partial cedar cladding to the sides of the building, natural ventilation and lighting wherever possible, and a covered walkway incorporating solar panels.

“We were delighted to have been given the go-ahead on what was a challenging site. Our Architects, GSS, came up with an impressive solution that enables the school to continue to provide our students with the highest quality education”. Julia Burns, Headmistress.

Leicester High School for Girls

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TL: Laxton Junior School

TC: Oakham School

TR: Leicester High School for Girls

MC: Oakham School

MR: Stamford Endowed Schools

BC: Rugby School Chapel

BR: Princess Helena College

35 HEADLANDSKETTERINGNORTHAMPTONSHIRENN15 7EST: 01536 513 165

THE TOWER STUDIOFOURTH AVENUE, HORNBEAM PARKHARROGATEHG2 8QTT: 01423 815 121

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STUDIO B/2314 WITAN GATE WESTCENTRAL MILTON KEYNESMK9 1EJT: 01908 010 030

HOULTS YARDWALKER ROADNEWCASTLENE6 2HLT: 0191 389 8917

E: GSS@GOTCH.CO.UKGSSARCHITECTURE.COM@GSSARCHITECTURE

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS