Info
Project Details:
A comprehensive new masterplan, decarbonisation and retrofit programme enabling a newly co-educational model across all age groups.
Images: Tom Biddle Photography
Where we started
We were appointed to develop a new masterplan and extensive retrofit programme for the school, building on a longstanding working relationship and supporting its move to a fully co‑educational model. Developed alongside a detailed decarbonisation strategy, the masterplan provides a clear route towards achieving Net Zero Carbon.
The project involved the retrofit of six buildings across the estate, combining sensitive refurbishment with selective new build to create modern teaching spaces that support contemporary educational needs and student wellbeing.
Completed works include a new sixth form centre, dance studio, dining hall and fitness centre, along with the remodelling of listed buildings to provide teaching, social and preparatory school spaces.
Focusing on transforming and reusing existing facilities, the design introduces new extensions, improved circulation, enhanced thermal performance and airtightness, and the integration of PV panels and heat pumps to reduce reliance on gas.
A strengthened landscape strategy supports this approach, incorporating blue and green roofs to promote biodiversity and sustainable drainage.
The masterplan shows how decarbonisation strategies can unlock the potential of existing assets, helping the school operate more efficiently and meet high environmental standards.
Design
Sixth Form
The transformation of the sixth form site consisted of the careful insertion of a new entrance and linking structure between existing buildings and the deep retrofit of an existing 1960s building which includes new cladding and highly insulated external walls, services, and PV solar panel installation on the roof.
The project maximises the footprint of the site, sensitively incorporating unused areas to create one unified building while making best use of the existing structures.
Dance Studio
The estate’s former squash court building was converted into a state-of-the-art space dedicated to dance. Through the simple adaptation of the existing building form, structure and materials, the new dance studio offers a flexible performance space filled with natural light.
The environmental performance exceeds a net zero balance, achieved through wrapping the existing building with a highly insulated new skin and the electrification of all services supported by a new heat pump and array of PV solar panels installed on the roof, which generates and surpasses all operational energy for the building.
The experience with our interventions at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School estate shows how innovative retrofit can extend a building’s lifetime, achieve the highest environmental performance, and create truly inspiring spaces. We are proud to continue to demonstrate untapped potential through adapting existing buildings into state-of-the-art education facilities.
Victoria Turner, Director at Levitt Bernstein
Dining Hall
The expansion was achieved through a comprehensive retrofit project, retaining 80% of the building fabric. The building’s envelope was enhanced with metal cladding of distinct detailing, unifying new and old and enhancing its environmental performance through significant upgrades to existing insulation thicknesses. Energy regulation is achieved through an efficient mechanical ventilation system in the kitchen and passive ventilation in the main hall.
School House
This project involved the careful transformation of a Grade II listed School House, previously used as a boarding facility, into a modern teaching building. The restoration honours the building’s historic character, sensitively creating contemporary classrooms, social spaces and teaching support facilities and restoring architectural elements such as the grand four-storey staircase to their former elegance.
Prep School
The conversion of an existing listed landmark building into a modern preparatory school. This careful refurbishment provides contemporary large class bases for years three to six, associated teaching spaces and learning resource.
Eddie Butler Fitness Centre
Re-purposing the former prep school site, classrooms were combined to form two large performance, strength and conditioning spaces within this new exemplar fitness facility of sector-leading quality.
Retaining and adapting the former school hall into a rowing studio, other facilities include extensive changing suites, a video analysis room and enhanced entrance lobby with glazed screens providing views into each gym space. Benefiting pupils, staff and the general public alike, the building is also being utilised by visiting international rugby teams.
The reconfiguring of internal spaces in the sixth form centre simplifies circulation and links key areas.
The project consisted on the deep retrofit of an existing 1960s building.
The design incorporates a new entrance and linking structure between existing buildings.
New social and study areas are provided.
The new building also includes greatly improved and biodiverse outdoor spaces for both students and staff to enjoy.
The masterplan works include a new dance studio, a new dining hall as well as staff and student facilities.
The former squash court building was converted into a state-of-the-art space dedicated to dance.
Resulting in a building with an environmental performance that exceeds net zero balance.
The dining hall building envelope was enhanced with metal cladding of distinct detailing.
It was extended and retrofitted, retaining 80% of the building fabric.
Efficient mechanical ventilation systems and passive ventilation regulate energy in the dining hall.
The former prep school site was repurposed into an exemplar fitness facility.
Former classrooms were combined to form two large performance, strength and conditioning spaces.
The building is also being utilised by visiting international rugby teams.
The school house involved the careful transformation of a Grade II listed School House into a modern teaching building.
We focused on preserving as much of the building’s historic fabric as possible.
Core team
Victoria Turner
Director
Kate Digney
Studio Director, Place
Clare Murray
Studio Director, Sustainability
Jamie Potter
Associate
Simon Abbott
Associate
