ARCHITECTURE: Fame academy, new performing arts space for Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park, north London

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Fame academy, new performing arts space for Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park, north London

Gollifer Langston updates throughout the year 1960 with new space for performing arts

Gollifer Langston Architects has completed the new two-stage music and dance center Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park, north London. The new building includes three studies of music, recording, practice rooms, the hotel, a green room. But the center is two big dance studies with movable walls and retractable seating, which can be transformed into an auditorium for public use.

Photo by James Brittain

The building is connected by a new bridge to a new locker rooms and sports facilities for the reception. The design includes a provision to allow for future expansion of the center to grow organically and possibly adopt the school has room.

The building fabric is highly insulated using Hemsec sandwich panels fixed to the concrete frame in conjunction with a breathable rain screen of Cembonit cladding.

All spaces are naturally ventilated with the option of mechanical ventilation and cooling in areas where acoustic conditions require sound isolation. Energy saving lighting sensors are installed throughout the communal areas with all spaces maximising natural light.

The music rooms are acoustically sealed from each other and the playing field. Angled acoustic ceilings, splayed walls and hard and soft finishes engineer sound performance. The spaces can also be used for recording, and have flexible desks and seating.

In the dance studio, strategically positioned curtain walling frames views to existing trees allowing the colours to permeate into the space. Black curtains and pivoting screens cover the windows to transform the space into a theatre setting. Facilities include flexible theatre lighting, and faceted walls to attenuate sound complete the experience.