Ickburgh School

Ickburgh School in London Borough of Hackney provides specialist
accommodation for 150 pupils aged between 2-19 years on the Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) spectrum.  The size of the building (5000 sqm – one of the
largest facilities of this kind in the UK) and the constrained nature of the
site, has required an innovative approach.

Ickburgh School is accommodated across three floors with ease of
movement for pupils with wheelchairs, beds and bespoke equipment safeguarded
through a legible plan and four large (26 person) lifts incorporated at key
access locations.

To provide a ‘small school’ feel and a sense of progression for pupils the
building is divided into five learning clusters for different age groups. Each cluster enjoys a front door accessed from a central lightwell and accommodates dedicated classrooms and support rooms.  A main visitor entrance located on the corner of Kenworthy Road creates a strong civic presence. A central triple height top lit atrium space forms the social heart of the school.

The building is constructed using a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) which has not only provided programme savings but also a highly sustainable, low carbon building. The CLT construction acts as a natural carbon store and when compared to traditional methods of construction is equivalent to taking 130 cars off the road each year for the next 20 years.