Wakefield Villas

The winning design of a two-stage RIBA competition, which attracted 140 entries, for the expansion of Wakefield Girls High School, involved the refurbishment of three Grade II listed villas to provide art and tutorial rooms, and the construction of three new buildings, incorporating a drama studio, English departments, music department and technology block for the secondary school. The whole development was unified by a planar glass corridor linking the new and existing facilities.

The first phase, the villa conversions, was completed in September 1996. Externally, the fabric was carefully restored; however internally, extensive alterations were undertaken enabling the complete opening up of areas to make suitable studio space for art related activities. Existing features were retained wherever possible and incorporated into contemporary interiors, creating a colourful and modern teaching facility.