Whitgift School – New Classroom Block

Whitgift School is an independent school in Croydon with a campus of buildings developed across several decades. As part of Phase 1 of a wider masterplan developed by PRS Architects, a new first-floor classroom block was added to ‘A Block’ – providing five full-size teaching rooms for up to 28 pupils each, alongside a covered pedestrian route connecting to the dining hall. We Design For provided MEP strategy and environmental design consultancy for the project.

The site presented a typical challenge of constrained school campuses: significant space needs, limited available land, and an existing building stock of mixed age and quality. The new block is constructed over an existing 1960s single-storey extension, making efficient use of the footprint without encroaching further on the grounds. The approach to MEP and environmental design had to reflect this – practical, low-maintenance, and appropriate to an educational setting.

The classrooms are naturally ventilated using high-level openable windows combined with buoyancy ventilation stacks, drawing fresh air through the spaces without mechanical intervention. Our role was to develop and validate this strategy, ensuring the rooms would meet the ventilation and thermal comfort requirements expected of modern teaching spaces while avoiding the running costs and maintenance demands of a fully mechanical system.

The project also transforms the immediate setting of the block: the removal of coach parking from the area around the building, combined with the new covered walkway, creates a sheltered external space defined by a large and ancient cedar tree — turning what had been a service yard into a usable part of the school grounds.