Redevelopment for St Mark’s School

Date posted: February 12, 2020

Planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of St Mark’s School in Southampton. The scheme will replace an existing outdated Victorian primary school building with a new purpose-built all-through school for 1,346 pupils aged 3-16.

Early in the project, the designers worked with the client team and the local community to establish the project requirements and aspirations. Particular focus was placed on understanding the nature of an all-through school; to what extent the different ages should be integrated or kept separate. ArchitecturePLB’s design will create distinct primary and secondary wings that retain their own identity but which share key facilities including dining, the library and learning support.

Although the project is entirely new build, the design team wanted to acknowledge the site’s Victorian history and have made contemporary references to the existing buildings, including stone framed windows and string courses. The new primary school hall with its pitched roof and arched window has been designed to evoke a memory of the former school and will incorporate architectural details salvaged from the existing buildings.

ArchitecturePLB was initially appointed by Faithful + Gould under the Pagabo Consultants’ framework and is now to be novated to the Design and Build contractor, Morgan Sindall. We look forward to continuing our existing relationship with Morgan Sindall having recently worked with them on a new sports complex for Solent University.