Thomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough
Client:
Thomas Deacon Trust
Architect:
Foster & Partners
Contractor:
Laing O'Rourke
Engineer:
Clive Fussell (Buro Happold)
Value:
£ 50m
To describe this building as "three layers of undulating ribboned classrooms enclosing a central courtyard underneath dramatic light diffused roof" is true but utterly fails to describe how this enormous 2000 student school has been designed around one space and at a human scale.
Naturally lit, largely naturally ventilated, dramatic, exciting, and easy to use and a pleasure to be in, this building is a beacon for secondary education design.
More an internal village than a school building, the six colleges formed by the V shaped floor plates revolves around the communication space at the heart of the building.
