Westminster Under School Masterplan
Masterplan and phased project expanding the preparatory school
Client: Westminster School
Location: Westminster, London
Status: Chapter House complete,
Adrian House under construction
Westminster School, one of the United Kingdom’s leading academic institutions, commissioned BFF to develop a comprehensive masterplan for the refurbishment and expansion of the Westminster Under School campus at Vincent Square. The brief encompassed the sensitive adaptation of the locally listed Adrian House, alongside the integration of Chapter House, a newly acquired office building with change-of-use consent.
-
The masterplan established an optimal reorganisation of the school across the site. Chapter House has been reconfigured to provide high-quality, fully serviced teaching accommodation for older pupils. The characterful and historic interiors of Adrian House are being transformed into a welcoming and nurturing environment for Reception and Years 1 to 4. A strategic brief was developed to align curriculum delivery and timetabling requirements with spatial planning, ensuring both efficiency and flexibility. At the heart of the scheme is a light-filled Hellerup stair and atrium, conceived as a unifying focal point for the school and an informal setting for gathering and performance.
The design process was informed by extensive engagement with staff and pupils, enabling stakeholder aspirations to be synthesised into a coherent and responsive proposal. A collaborative project invited pupils to reimagine how the spaces might be used, generating valuable insights that have been meaningfully embedded within the design.
The introduction of natural light deep into the plan has unlocked a series of shared breakout spaces, fostering interaction and a sense of openness. A restrained palette of natural materials creates a calm and comfortable environment, supporting the school’s commitment to mindfulness and wellbeing.
‘‘Living and working in this new building [Chapter House] now is a delight. The plans have come to life capturing all aspects of the building’s potential. Staff and pupils are really enjoying living and working in modern shared spaces that are well-lit with natural light. The exciting, shared, open workspaces have been highly successful in their aim of creating areas that are used by staff and pupils are alike, in what really does feel like a modern and somewhat ‘grown-up' environment for all to share. This has created an exciting new vibe around the building - offering something that we did not have previously.’’
— Benedict Dunhill, Director of Expansion for Co-Education of Westminster Under School
Project Team
Lead Consultant, Architect, Landscape & Principal Designer: BFF Architects
Civils & Structural Engineer: Price and Myers
MEP & Acoustic Engineer: Scotch Partners Project Manager: Circle Development Landscape Consultant: Studio Knight Stokoe
Heritage Consultant: Alan Baxter Associates
Planning Consultant: Quod
Transport Consultant: Mode
Fire Consultant: OFR