LAMDA Drama School
2017
In 2002 LAMDA made the decision to move their teaching school and theatre to a new site in Hammersmith, West London. They purchased the old Royal Ballet School site, sandwiched between a six-lane highway and a railway line. We were appointed to work with LAMDA over an eight year period to plan the phased transfer and occupation of the new site, following a successful competition bid.
In 2003 we created a masterplan for the site and carried out the refurbishment of the existing buildings. The school was moved in on time for the new teaching year. As part of an extended appointment, the practice has now designed twelve new teaching studios, a training theatre and ancillary accommodation for the site.
The site’s position presents considerable problems for a teaching environment, including traffic noise, railway noise and pollution. At the same time, it is an extraordinarily high profile location with great visibility. The practice has designed an inexpensive building that relishes the gritty urban qualities of its location and provides robust, calm spaces for learning.