Central retail site in Southampton, reimagined as a new school for 750 pupils.

Edwin Jones Academy | Southampton | Hampshire

Education

Status: Completed

Client: RIBAJ

Type: Competition

Paul Cashin Architects, in collaboration with Keith Evans Architects, have won the West Fraser Sterling OSB Zero / Department for Education and RIBAJ Design Competition for the ‘Edwin Jones Academy’. The competition reimagined the prominent site of the old Debenhams department store in Southampton, Hampshire, to create a new school for 750 pupils.

Judge Jan-Carlos Kucharek commented,‘I like the thought that went into it. It feels real – a space that could work, with a palpable sense of identity.’ Judge Holly Lewis added: ‘They have been bold with messing with the existing building. I like the urban consideration, the modular elements and using SterlingOSB Zero for something that is repeated across the building is also sensible. It has an architectural ambition.’

The design concept was based on three key actions:

Subtraction: involves taking away the redundant building elements and reducing it to its core components of column and beams. It is also creates voids in the existing floor plates to provide natural light into the deep plan.

Addition: allows us to add teaching spaces, support areas and new school facilities into the building. We can also add services like MVHR for the school spaces and community spaces, such as shops and a gym.

Connection: allows us to reintroduce historic characteristics for the City of Southampton, such as the lost Fruit Market in the local area, and the connection to the International Port with shipping containers. We can also connect the school with the local context, with walk way routes and views to Hoglands Park.