DMA

This new senior school building is for Crosfields School, a co-educational independent day school in Reading. Our proposal, chosen through an invited competition, makes the most of the site’s hilltop position as well as reflecting the forward-thinking and inclusive ethos of the school.

The existing school is made up of single and double storey buildings set around courtyards and green spaces, with a pleasant, campus-like feel. Our new building continues this, carefully weaving between the existing mature trees across the site and creating a new senior school courtyard with views across the town. To allow the school to continue to operate during construction, a phased approach was taken with the first phase including a new front entrance, nine new classrooms, staff area, library, flexible performance space, a café that spills out into the courtyard and a specialised wellbeing centre to help support students. Warm timber finishes (using CLT construction) and carefully framed views make it feel comfortable and welcoming.