Kew House School, London

Kew House School is a co-educational independent senior school for students aged 11-18 years. Open since September 2013, their recent Ofsted Report noted that the faculties “ambitious vision and relentless drive have established a school that promotes the highest standards and aims for excellent achievements for its students”. Under the leadership of veteran Headmaster, Mark Hudson, the school has put a concerted emphasis on the individual; establishing confidence that encourages students to maximise their personal achievements in every facet of school life.

With higher education never more popular amongst young people, Kew House School excel at providing smooth passage of students from sixth form to university. While the traditional values of academic excellence and achievement remain pivotal, Kew High School are continuously exploring dynamic modern approaches to encourage and nurture independence and leadership.

Kew House School’s vision is encapsulated by their Sixth Form Centre, a new build, designed specifically to encourage independence and individuality for students approaching adulthood. Spread across 6 floors, the stunning construction features an independent learning area, a café, library, break-out spaces and quiet study areas. The building also includes an audio-visual suite, recording studio, classrooms and Sixth Form Seminar rooms. It creates a dynamic environment; extolling campus life within the secure and nurturing confines of school.

Streetspace Urban Structures became involved in the project when a single-source canopy solution was sought for the top floor roof deck. The striking canopy featured a symmetric central ‘spine’ design with in-line support columns and finished with a perimeter cable edge. The canopy’s signal white steelwork complemented the champagne finish of the PVC membrane fabric. The installation used two existing steel support plates and the speedy construction involved components being craned up to the 6th floor.

With its translucency, colour, clearspan and softness of form, the ORION Shield Tensile Membrane Canopy, proved to be the perfect solution, with the gentle curve of the shield design providing both an attractive aesthetic and a unique ambience to an outstanding build that provided a stunning finish to a prestigious project.