The expansion for Cardinal Wiseman School is a bespoke standalone teaching block, developed in collaboration with Coventry City Council.

The new Year 7 ‘bridge’ expansion has been carefully conceived to support pupils transitioning from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. The dedicated space will provide an environment tailored specifically to the needs of the year group, whilst providing opportunities for integration with the wider school through design elements such as the communal play areas.

The building itself will allow the school to welcome an additional 150 students by offering 10 new purpose-built classrooms, alongside a Learning Resource Centre and smaller breakout spaces. Drawing all these elements together is the central ‘heart’ space which not only encourages interaction between the newly arrived pupils but also draws the rest of the school into the space.

Throughout the design process, we worked closely with Cardinal Wiseman School and the Romero Catholic Academy Trust to ensure the building responds to the needs of all users. This has included a strong focus on community engagement and identifying opportunities for wider public use of the facilities.