Overview Leighton Park School is an independent Quaker school with a strong tradition of music and performance. The brief was to create a new building to provide a central hub for performing arts and to enlarge the foyer for the existing theatre. Description The site was located next to the existing school theatre and adjacent to the main school drive and historic Old School house (Grade II). The existing theatre was a large and dominant building with poor access and facilities for visitors. The proposals created a new enlarged foyer wrapping around the existing theatre, and a curved single storey block incorporating music teaching, rehearsal and practice facilities. The foyer has split levels, providing level access from outside and an internal lift giving access to main theatre and upper gallery facilities. All teaching spaces are provided with natural ventilation and cooling. Acoustic sound separation is controlled through a series of external fins/columns which shield opening windows to adjacent rooms creating excellent acoustics. Proposals include the retention of a commemorative tree by the theatre entrance and re-landscaping of the courtyard area in front of the main house creating an attractive new frontage to the school. An amphitheatre was created to the rear of the building using arisings from the site providing a venue for whole school gatherings and summer events.