The client?s brief requested us to consolidate teaching facilities for students undertaking art related courses. The school operated with insufficient facilities and lessons took place in locations dotted around campus. The sensitive modern interpretation of the brief within the setting of a group of listed buildings was adopted with plaudit by the local authority Conservation Officers. The facility has four flexible art studios with support accommodation of kiln and drying rooms, mezzanine teaching / supervision spaces. Features of the project include active natural ventilation systems and carefully controlled natural lighting giving a gallery quality and inspirational environment to the exacting creative use of the space. Through close consultation with the staff, we were able to quantify exactly the spatial requirements together with understanding the aspirations of the enthusiastic teachers to develop an exciting design in balance with financial restrictions and within recommendations of BB89. The playing field elevation consists of a flat timber fa?ade punctuated by Bath stone ashlar fins. The fins act as bay windows providing an elevation relief which reflect the main school buildings and The Chapel. Salvaged slate tiles from the demolished existing building were reused on the pitched roof . The patina on the reused slates are successful in immediately providing the new building with a lived in character. The project is significant in terms of the enthusiasm shared by all members of the team from clients, teachers, pupils, the contractors and even the planners. The success is the result of a functional building fit for its purpose combined with a contextual architectural language which in general opinions, relates to and improves its surroundings. The school were delighted to invite Sir Christopher Frayling, Chair of the Arts Council to officially open the building in November 2008.