Beal High School

Expanded and developed in 2011 in collaboration with Morgan Sindall our design provides a total of 840 student places, expanding the school from 8 to 12 forms of entry.

The school faced challenges stemming from multiple expansions, resulting in overcrowded corridors and a mismatch of architectural styles. We were appointed to develop a comprehensive masterplan for the site to overcome these issues and transform the campus into a student-centric, safe, and coherent campus. 

Central to the project was the construction of a new KS3 school building south of the main structure, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including general and specialised classrooms, science labs, an art studio, a learning resource centre, and assembly and sports hall. The redesign extended to the main entrance and reception areas, addressing security concerns while fostering a welcoming atmosphere and enhancing connectivity across the campus. This design philosophy was replicated throughout the new KS3 school, creating legibility and a sense of a ‘family of buildings’ across the site. 

The DLA project team was praised by the client for their joined-up thinking and responsiveness to changes in the brief, resulting in a design that balances a cost-effective approach with inspiring interior design which reflects the school’s creative specialism of Media Arts. 

The new building has been designed to BREEAM Excellent rating and sets new benchmarks for sustainability in education, including features such as rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic cells and a combined heat and power plant.