Pimlico Academy design

The information below provides a brief overview of the design approach and concept for Pimlico Academy.

Pimlico Academy main entrance

Pimlico Academy will be completely redeveloped into a landmark new building for 1,262 students (1,062 students 11-16 yrs and 200 students post-16 yrs). The designs adopt a U-shaped building, to a courtyard design, with buildings on three frontages - along Lupus Street, Claverton Street and Chichester Street. The courtyard area will incorporate an activity hall. Informal and formal hard and soft play areas will be developed at the St George's Square end of the site. The scheme involves the progressive building of the new academy, with the phased demolition of the existing buildings.

The key features of the proposals are:

• Brand new and improved sports facilities, which meet not only the vision for the academy but also designed the needs of the wider community - accessed via an entrance on Chichester Street;
  
  
• Facilities to support the academy's specialism as a performing and visual arts college, including on-site accommodation for the Pimlico Special Music Scheme;
  
  
• Exemplary energy efficiency proposals which achieve the highest national targets for new buildings of this kind (BREEAM rating: Excellent);
  
  
• Integration of community facilities through the relocation of Pimlico library and the inclusion of an adult education centre as an integrated part of the design.
  
  

Pimlico Academy Library

The proposed scheme achieves sensible compromises between academy and community considerations. The main entrances to the academy and public facilities are located along the western end of Lupus Street, leaving the eastern end open to maintain views across the site towards the church. The building along Lupus Street is set-back seven metres from the current back edge of pavement, which ensures that an appropriate sense of scale is still maintained along the street and gives the existing Lime trees planted in the pavement, the necessary space to grow to their natural shape and size.

The proposals meet the requirements of the Council's planning brief that any redevelopment proposal should respond sensitively to the domestic scale and character of Cubitt's Pimlico. The proposed building does not exceed three storeys above street level, presenting a building of a scale, form and material that is not obtrusive in views or on the skyline.

The scheme has been designed to offer a high level of natural security across the site by avoiding landscaping that conceals people and to minimise the number of entrances / exits, creating defensible spaces, and encouraging natural surveillance.

Building Work started in January 2008 and will be completed in phases by August 2010, with all external landscaping fully complete by February 2011. Please click here to view planning applications or to view the construction timetable.

If you would like to make a comment on the proposals or if you would like more information please contact us.