Building Explorations for Decision-Makers

Local authorities, schools and government departments have commissioned Open House to create and develop bespoke programmes and projects relating to school design and community consultation. All projects are tailored to specific needs, drawing on the experience and expertise gained through our established and respected learning programmes, resources and knowledge.

Westminster Academy Building Explorations

Our current initiatives include building explorations of Westminster Academy – one of the most striking new buildings recently completed in London, and designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. It was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize 2008 and has won ten awards to date, including the RIBA Sorrell Foundation Schools Award and the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, the Mies van der Rohe Award.

From early 2008 Open House has been working with the Academy to organise a tailored programme of visits for one morning per month by headteachers, governors, local authority educationalists, architects, consultants and others involved specifically in commissioning or procuring new school buildings. The programme, which brings together architects and educationalists in a unique way, provides an invaluable opportunity to explore this acclaimed facility at first hand, and to learn how design teams and teaching staff have responded to the challenge of creating learning environments for the 21st century. The events have been used as CPD training by several organisations.

Our successful programme of building explorations at Westminster Academy continues from October 2008 on the following dates:

2008:

3 October
7 November
5 December

2009:

16 January
6 February
6 March
1 May
5 June
3 July

Please download the event flyer here.

The events run from 9.45am to 1.30pm. The half day includes presentations from a senior Academy staff member and an Allford Hall Monaghan Morris architect, a guided tour of the site, opportunities for questions and answers, and a school dinner!

The price per person is £100 + VAT. Please note that, as a charity, Open House aims to provide as many initiatives as possible free of charge. This is made possible through receiving sponsorship on a project basis. The Westminster Academy Building Explorations are not sponsored directly, so to enable the programme to take place the costs of materials, project management, marketing and publicity and administration need to be covered. The programme has received a consistently excellent rating from participants, and feedback shows that they believe it represents very good value. The charge per person has been agreed with Westminster Academy.

For further information about the programme please contact the Programme Coordinator, Zoe Chick, at Open House by email or on 020 7380 0412.

 

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