JFK Special School is a member of the Learning in Harmony Multi-Academy Trust and offers specialist provision for pupils with special and additional needs-based across four sites in Newham.
The Beckton site offers specialist teaching and learning for students with autism and communication needs, and this project expands their current facilities to increase provision by up to 40 autistic students.
Rivington Street Studio’s extension will provide five new classrooms together with staff accommodation. A community café will help foster links with the local area. The existing building, entrance sequence and landscaping will be reconfigured with the design focusing on a calming environment with suitable sensory stimulus.
The design provides an easily understood environment; a simple plan layout and a low level of distraction and sensory stimulus suitable for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
The new linear block extension has a brick ground floor which ties the ground floor surface with the existing. It has lightweight metal standing seam cladding to the first floor which helps to mark the new entrance and provide a civic presence for the school at the new entrance.
The design includes air source heat pumps and PV panels on both the new and existing school buildings to achieve net zero net zero in use.
