Dispute Escalates at Deeping St James Cross School
Renovation and Extension of Cross School in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire
Photos: Jonathan Hendry Architects
Jonathan Hendry Architects has undertaken a transformation of Cross School, a former Victorian school and community centre in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire. As part of a multi-phase redevelopment and restoration plan, the project incorporates a new entrance, four studio spaces for rent, and a community garden/outdoor play area.
Located within a conservation area, the site is primarily surrounded by two-storey residential buildings with some retail and commercial usage. The existing hall has been modified over the years to meet contemporary requirements, with limestone and brick materials being predominantly used. A new single-storey studio block, constructed from timber and brick with a standing seam zinc roof, has been added against the boundary wall. The roof projects out over the front elevation, forming a semi-covered external space.
To facilitate a fire escape, an existing single-storey extension to the hall was removed and replaced with a soft-planted garden, circular timber bench, and entrance pathway. The lean-to entrance extension was also removed and replaced with a pitched-roofed entrance whose form reflects the gable of the existing hall. A large gable window provides views onto the communal garden.
The new entrance offers a much-needed light-filled and disability-compliant arrival space, ensuring access to all building areas without interconnecting rooms. It is set back and finished in the same timber as the studio building, with a single column acting as a bookend at the front of the building.
The new buildings employ timber-frame construction using JJI-joists, favored for their cost-effectiveness in achieving long spans and deep wall and roof voids. The slim cantilevered canopy, which extends the entire front elevation, required bespoke, in-depth analysis of the cantilever members and connections between the timber outriggers and I-joist rafters forming the primary roof structure.
The project incorporates a range of active and passive environmental technologies, including sheep's wool insulation for the external walls and roof, and timber stud walls filled with sheep's wool for acoustic purposes and lined with plywood. All studio spaces have an opening stable door and a rooflight or window for cross ventilation, while an air source heat pump is linked to the district heating system.
The Cross School project is recognized for its innovative approach to timber-frame construction, sustainable materials, and advanced structural engineering solutions. The design emphasizes flexibility, modesty, and adaptability, responding thoughtfully to site conditions while fostering creativity, connection, and community.
Credits
Architect: Jonathan Hendry ArchitectsStructural Engineer: Paramount Structural EngineersQuantity Surveyor: Ford EstimatingMain Contractor: JD CarterClient: Deeping St James Charitable Trust
- The new community garden/outdoor play area, integrated as part of Cross School's redevelopment, offers a tranquil home-and-garden setting for school activities and public events, promoting a lifestyle that integrates environment and community.
- To ensure the newly built studio spaces are conducive to various artistic endeavors and reflect the project's commitment to sustainability, Jonathan Hendry Architects employed environment-friendly construction methods, including using sheep's wool insulation, a material known for its eco-friendliness in the home-and-garden and building sectors.
