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The Elms Academy

School Refurbishment | London

The Elms Academy is a mixed secondary academy based in the London borough of Lambeth. The academy is highly successful, with many students going on to attend Oxford and Cambridge.

Services: Furniture, Interior Design, Refurbishment, Space Planning

Location: London

Markets: Education

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Bespoke locker system with planter tops in sixth form refurbishment project London

School Refurbishment Brief

The Elms Academy contacted Rap Interiors to refurbish its sixth form breakout area and common room. The space had become outdated and needed a revamp to improve functionality and make it more inviting for students.

The brief included the following priorities:

Space planning to accommodate more students
Design consultancy to modernise the aesthetic
Furniture procurement to make the common room more comfortable and practical
The supply and install of a new tea point to improve dining facilities

As part of the design process, we held meeting with both stakeholders and the students themselves. This would prove key in informing design decisions to create an improved space for the students.

See more education refurbishment projects here.

Our Solution

Tea Point

Before appointing us for the school refurb, The Elm Academy’s kitchen area had insufficient tea point facilities that no longer met the students’ needs. Therefore, the academy required a new modern tea point where students could make food and beverages.

The new tea point was positioned against a curved wall. Our team tailored the units to accommodate the challenging structural elements of the space. The tea point included an integrated microwave, storage facilities for cutlery and crockery, and a handy work surface for food preparation. Additionally, our school designers specified a modern white gloss finish to complement the existing grey flooring.

Lockers

Bespoke locker wall system for school refurbishment project London.

The academy wanted new lockers to provide a safe and secure place where students could store their belongings. These would also serve as partitions to divide the space into zones.

In addition to their practicality, the academy wanted the lockers to enhance the interior design scheme. This meant creating a bespoke locker system with white and driftwood fronts for a checkerboard effect. The lockers also include planters on the top for added greenery.

The unique shape of the space incorporated two curved walls. This was a very challenging aspect for our designers to work with, but they successfully designed a space plan with the bespoke locker wall which seamlessly wrapped around the curve.

School Furniture Solutions

Modular seating in sixth form common room interior design.

High back banquet seating in school refurbishment project at The Elms Academy London.

Dining tables and high curved stools in school refurbishment project.

As the academy wanted the space to hold more students, our designers reconfigured the layout and sourced new furniture. With the introduction of slim high standing tables and curved stools, we were able to add extra seating in the dedicated dining area.

To create a more mature environment, we also introduced a coffeeshop-style seating area with high back banquette seating, round tables, and reconfigurable modular sofas. The designers positioned the sofas back-to-back as a way of maximising the space, further increasing the headcount.

To make the space more vibrant and inviting, the designers chose blue furniture that also reflects the academy’s branding. The furniture is made with wipeable faux leather upholstery so the area can be easily cleaned.

Other Key Features

Within the breakout space, The Elm Academy had a large, unmovable server unit that the stakeholders wanted to be concealed. To do so, our designers introduced movable fabric screens to sit around it. Like the modular sofas, these sport a blue colour scheme to reflect the academy’s colours.

The academy also had a large vending machine which it wanted to retain without compromising the increased headcount. Therefore, our designers situated it within their space in a suitable location away from dining space and heavy traffic areas.

The Results

With the fresh new design and practical furniture elements, The Elms Academy now has a breakout space and common room suitable for its talented students. The spatial reconfiguration and new furniture have increased the headcount, while the updated aesthetic is both modern and pertinent to the school’s identity.

Moreover, the new tea point and coffeeshop-style furniture have created a more mature environment while improving practicality. This is fitting for an ambitious academy that has a history of helping students gain entry to top universities.

Following the refurbishment, we were delighted to receive positive feedback from the academy. The stakeholders said that we achieved everything detailed in the initial brief, which is great to hear.

Are You Considering a School Refurbishment?

Rap Interiors is an experienced school refurbishment company with a track record of delivering stunning education transformations. With a team of dedicated design and project experts, we specialise in creating spaces that inspire students and help them reach their full potential.

To book a consultation, please call 0300 600 1234 or fill in the enquiry form below.

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