Transforming Education Spaces in Live Environments

Autumn 2026 is when the Department for Education (DfE) expects its Estates Strategy to start moving from policy into implementation. And it’s no longer defined by new buildings, but by how effectively existing estates can be adapted to meet changing demands.

Across schools, colleges and universities, the challenge is one of transformation rather than expansion. Existing buildings must work harder, support evolving teaching methods, improve sustainability performance and create environments that enhance wellbeing and learning outcomes.

The challenge the DfE faces is that refurbishment and repurposing projects often present some of the most complex challenges in construction.

Places of education are usually occupied, often constrained by heritage considerations, limited by existing structures or expected to remain operational while major works take place.

We've seen this across a number of projects.

Citi View Paddington

• 353-bed refurbishment + 25-bed structural expansion (reworking the building to maximise capacity + commercial value)
• Demolition and replacement of existing stair + lift cores → new steel-frame staircase + compliant vertical circulation
• New G/LG connecting stair → unlocking previously constrained space for breakout, lounge + study areas
• Roof replacement + façade repairs + window upgrades (ex-Crittall) → improving thermal performance + energy efficiency

The Helix, Wembley

• 21-storey tower refurbishment + Cat A fit out → 435+ bedrooms with kitchens, bathrooms + communal areas
• Full re-cladding of the building envelope as part of upgrade strategy
• Extensive internal + external remediation works with strong focus on fire safety compliance
• Early investigation + reporting works informing scope changes → programme extended to 3 years due to complexity

Linhope House (Francis Holland School – independent girls’ school, ~550 pupils overall)

• Conversion of Georgian residential building to a dedicated 16+ sixth form centre (fundamental shift in building use)
• Structural intervention to open up rear of building → new common room centred around tiered bleacher seating (15m bespoke joinery)
• Blended approach: retain heritage features (e.g. Reading Room) + introduce Think Lab, soundproof booths + flexible learning spaces
• 17-week fast-track programme aligned to term times → complex delivery within live academic constraints

265 Strand (NYU London – ~480 students per semester)

• 77,000 sq ft whole-building Cat A + Cat B redevelopment → new central London campus with lecture theatres + teaching space
• Major structural reconfiguration → soft spots, wall removals and riser infills unlocking new layouts + circulation
• Targeted carbon fibre strengthening to existing structure (non-disruptive reinforcement solution)
• Signature staircase + bespoke joinery package → improved circulation, acoustics + overall teaching environment quality

Refurbishment projects are rarely about simply updating a building. They involve understanding what can be retained, what needs to change and how to deliver those improvements while managing structural constraints, operational requirements and future expectations.

As the education sector increasingly looks to modernise existing assets rather than replace them, experience of working within occupied buildings, adapting complex structures and unlocking value from existing estates will play an increasingly important role in shaping the learning environments of the future.

• Insights