Pimlico Academy is a Visual and Performing Arts College. The new school will have a capacity of 1262 pupils – 1050 pupils plus a 200 place pupil sixth form. The project will also provide a new home for Pimlico library and a new local centre for Westminster’s Adult Education Service.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The proposals for the new school create a U-shaped building, with a protected courtyard, the new building has three frontages - along Lupus Street, Claverton Street and Chichester Street. This gives the school a more prominent street position with a triple height entrance on Chichester Street. The courtyard area will incorporate an activity hall which can accommodate internal and external performances.

Demolition (13,560 m2)

Demolition of current building completed in phases, starting February 2008.

External Areas

-    New all weather Astro Turf Pitch.
-    Courtyard

New Build Area (12,810 m2)

The key features of the proposals are:

Brand new and improved, fit for purpose sports facilities, which meet not only the vision for the school but also designed for the needs of the wider community: All weather pitch, climbing wall, sports hall and fitness suite.

The main entrances to the school 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 NW building will have an integration of community facilities on site, through the relocation of Pimlico library and the inclusion of an adult education centre as an incorporated part of the design. These facilities will be accessed through a dedicated entrance on the corner of Lupus Street and Claverton Street, ensuring a separate identity whilst maintaining strong physical links with the school and the community, to enhance the urban landscape of its location.

The NE building along Lupus Street will be set-back seven meters from the current back edge of the pavement, which ensures that an appropriate sense of scale is still maintained along the street and giving the existing lime trees the necessary space to grow to their natural shape and size. This area will be for drama classrooms, music studios and visual and performing art studios.

The SW and SE buildings will contain the scientific area with ICT classrooms, electronics departments, graphics and humanities classrooms and sports hall.