Collingwood College

About the Client

Collingwood College is a mixed-sex state secondary school based in Surrey. It is the largest secondary school in Surrey, with over 2,000 pupils, including more than 400 in the sixth form.

School Refurbishment Brief

Collingwood College needed an experienced interior fit out company to update its sixth form IT suite. The brief was to create a more sociable and stimulating area that also reflected Collingwood College’s identity.

Our Solution

In order to create a more sociable area for the students, our school interior designers introduced two types of desking: one with power and data, and another without. The desks with power and data offer a space to do IT work, while the blank desks encourage students to sit down and socialise without the distraction of technology.

To create a more vibrant area which reflected the college’s identity, our designers made intelligent colour choices. For example, the college’s yellow and blue colour scheme is reflected in the carpet design, desk screens and wall paint. The yellow element of the carpet also serves to highlight the desk areas and add contrast to the overall aesthetic.

Additionally, we removed two walls from the original IT suite to make the space open plan and, in turn, more communication-friendly. For practicality, one section of wall was left up and painted in order to create a student walkway. The walkway also works as a convenient backdrop for the teacher’s whiteboard and projection equipment.

The Results

Through working closely with our design team, Collingwood College now has a vibrant, practical and fun ICT suite. The open-plan layout and furniture solutions has encouraged communication amongst students, and the overall design has created a stimulating and inspiring learning environment.

Furthermore, our project team managed to complete the works within the four-week deadline. This ensured the suite was ready for the start of the new school year.