Undershaw
Hindhead
The construction of a new world-class school for 'Stepping Stones', an education centre for children with special needs. The project comprised the refurbishment of a Grade II listed house & coach house, originally built and lived in by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife, as well as a significant new extension and associated external works. We were appointed by the DFN Charitable Foundation, which funded the project.
The project entailed the demolition of a 1930’s extension, complete strip out and structural alterations to the existing building. The building was then completely refurbished and many historical features were preserved; original stain glass windows were restored along with fire places, staircases and wooden floors.
The contemporary extension adopts many modern building techniques, formed by a steel frame structure and clad with brickwork and zinc. The roof incorporates zinc clad fins, which house photovoltaic panels for renewable energy on one side. The extension has been fused to the existing building by a glass link.
Externally, we created new access roads and a car parking area, which is supported by a criblock retaining wall. In addition, a multi-use games area was constructed at the bottom of the site.