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Campus Projects Update
Simon Yiend, recently retired COO of the College, reports on the final three major projects that he oversaw during the last of his 12 years in the role.
‘2G’, short pile artificial surface suitable for tennis and hockey, together with upgrades to facilities for athletics field events. The new hockey/tennis facility has been completed and the running track and field facilities will be finished at Easter when the special polymeric top surface can be laid; this has to wait until warmer weather. These projects have not been without their challenges but we are delighted to have two new quality playing surfaces that will ensure training and games can be played in all weathers and available for much more sustained use than grass. The Lower School project is progressing well and is on programme despite the site becoming a swimming pool from torrential rain on a regular basis.
comfortable gathering of all 260 or so Junior School pupils in one place. This phase is not expected to start until 2024, at the earliest. Also in progress has been a major upgrade of sports facilities. It has been the long-held priority for the Games department that we should have a full size all-weather artificial rugby and football pitch (know as ‘3G’ with a 60mm pile artificial carpet). The running track had become unusable owing to subsidence on the east side, with only two lanes fit for use, while the smaller artificial pitch in the centre of the running track was at the end of its life. We have therefore undertaken two developments, which are all but complete now and will be available for sport from the start of the new year: a 3G rugby/football all-weather pitch in the South West corner of the main playing fields, adjacent to the railway line and Hunt’s Slip Road, refurbishment of the running track and a new
financial pressures. Phase 1 is the replacement of the portacabin library with a new three storey ‘Knowledge Hub’ on College Road, which will provide library facilities, break out spaces, ICT suites and a robotics suite. This phase began in September with the demolition of the old portacabin (which didn’t take long!) and the project is on track to deliver a new building as the entry point to the Lower School by November 2023. The second phase will be more extensive and will deliver a new façade and circulation spaces alongside upgraded classrooms and school offices, a Wellbeing Centre and an impressive foyer as the entry to the building. Also part of this project will be a new Junior School Hall as a multi-use facility which will allow for the
The next stage of the College Masterplan is the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Lower School and the building of a new Junior School Hall. There has been a significant shift in recent years in the independent sector away from 13+ as the primary point of entry into the senior school to 11+. We continue to provide 13+ entry from traditional Prep School feeders (notably Dulwich Prep London) but the 11+ is important to us as a source of excellent bursary candidates. We are replacing the much-loved but dilapidated portacabin Raymond Chandler Library and renovating the 1948 Lower and Junior School buildings. Planning approval has been obtained for this development which will be delivered in two phases, necessarily separate owing to
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