Emanuel School Dacre

Emanuel School, Dacre Building, Battersea, London

HHA successfully delivered a £6 million Arts and Humanities facility for Emanuel School in Battersea, London, over a 21-month construction period. Spanning nearly 1,200m² across three storeys, the project integrates a new building with complex level changes that connect existing classroom blocks. Additionally, parts of the Victorian school building were also refurbished to accommodate additional classrooms, ensuring seamless continuity with modern educational needs. The facility includes dedicated classrooms for Economics, History, and Geography, complemented by specialized areas such as printmaking studios, a darkroom, sculpture and painting classrooms, ceramics facilities with a kiln room, a film studio, and acoustically isolated music practice rooms. Meeting stringent acoustic requirements, the project required meticulous coordination of structural, services, and architectural design.

Key challenges included maintaining school operations during construction, managing proximity to Network Rail land, and preserving views of the school’s Victorian gable ends. Innovative design solutions included a trapezoidal glazed enclosure overlooking Wandsworth Common and a distinctive façade blending glass block, rain-screen cladding, and hand-made brickwork along the 60-metre railway-facing elevation. The completed facility not only enhances Emanuel School’s educational offerings but also underscores its reputation as a premier institution. It provides an outstanding environment that supports both current students and attracts new pupils, ensuring continued success for years to come. This project exemplifies our commitment to delivering high-quality educational facilities that integrate seamlessly with their historical and architectural context in London.

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