Westminster Academy

Client Westminster Academy, Westminster City Council, DCSF and Exilarch Foundation
Value £27.8 Million
Status Completed 2007

Whilst at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Matt Thornley worked on the Stirling Prize shortlisted Westminster Academy. Located between Harrow Road and the Westway, the school accommodates 1,175 students and 128 staff.

The plan centres on a ground floor ‘marketplace’ which links all key communal spaces and visually connects the entire school via a full-height atrium. A variety of teaching spaces are provided, ranging from a 180-person lecture theatre to intimate break-out spaces for one-to-one sessions.

Within the building, a robust material palette of unfinished concrete, timber and painted blockwork combines with super scaled graphics and artworks to enhance the learning environment and encourage exhibition and display. Externally the building is clad in glass and brightly coloured terracotta panels, providing the area with a civic landmark.

The building has won many notable awards including the RIBA London Building of the Year Award 2008 and the RIBA Sorrell Foundation School Award 2008.

Architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Lead Consultant Building Design Partnership
Project Manager Capita Symonds
Main Contractor Galliford Try
FF&E Consultant Building Design Partnership
Graphic Designer Studio Myerscough
Quantity Surveyor Davis Langdon
ICT Consultant Hornagold & Hills
Security Consultant Buro Happold
Structural Engineer Building Design Partnership
Catering Consultant Winton Nightingale
Services Engineer Building Design Partnership
Photography Timothy Soar


Westminster Academy

Client Westminster Academy, Westminster City Council, DCSF and Exilarch Foundation
Value £27.8 Million
Status Completed 2007

Whilst at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Matt Thornley worked on the Stirling Prize shortlisted Westminster Academy. Located between Harrow Road and the Westway, the school accommodates 1,175 students and 128 staff.

The plan centres on a ground floor ‘marketplace’ which links all key communal spaces and visually connects the entire school via a full-height atrium. A variety of teaching spaces are provided, ranging from a 180-person lecture theatre to intimate break-out spaces for one-to-one sessions.

Within the building, a robust material palette of unfinished concrete, timber and painted blockwork combines with super scaled graphics and artworks to enhance the learning environment and encourage exhibition and display. Externally the building is clad in glass and brightly coloured terracotta panels, providing the area with a civic landmark.

The building has won many notable awards including the RIBA London Building of the Year Award 2008 and the RIBA Sorrell Foundation School Award 2008.

Architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Lead Consultant Building Design Partnership
Project Manager Capita Symonds
Main Contractor Galliford Try
FF&E Consultant Building Design Partnership
Graphic Designer Studio Myerscough
Quantity Surveyor Davis Langdon
ICT Consultant Hornagold & Hills
Security Consultant Buro Happold
Structural Engineer Building Design Partnership
Catering Consultant Winton Nightingale
Services Engineer Building Design Partnership
Photography Timothy Soar