Charterhouse Science and Mathematics Centre

by Design Engine Architects

Client Charterhouse School

Awards RIBA South East Award 2019

This is a very well-considered addition to a forgotten corner of the campus of a large independent school. The design developed over many years and through several changes of the client structure. This allowed the project to mature and distil a super contextual approach to the many differing adjacent buildings and constraints.

The buildings entrance side forms a new quad with existing adjacent buildings. Its scale, materials and clever development of classroom access from a cloister, enhance the collegiate character. The laboratories themselves are generous and cleverly achieve both wet and dry teaching within a single space. Lab spaces on the upper floor open up into the complex geometry of the roof, producing particularly around the chimneys used for venting fume cupboards.

The expression of the chimneys externally on the north elevation seems a little willful, but seen in the context of the long elevation fronting the sports field it works like a punctuation mark at the end of a complex sentence.

The jury were impressed by the patient, dedicated approach of the architects, supported by the governing body. The result is a rich, satisfying response to a complex, difficult brief.

Internal area 1,800 m²

Contractor Total Construction

Structural Engineers Heyne Tillett Steel

Environmental / M&E Engineers Sweco

Project Management Ridge & Partners LLP

Acoustic Engineers Sustainable Acoustics

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Fanshawe LLP

Planning Consultant A S Planning

Principal Designer Currie & Brown