JBH was assigned the London school refurbishment contract to redevelop an extended period property for Eagle House Group Sixth Form Centre in South London.
Eagle House Group Sixth Form required a dedicated space to support their students, who have individual learning needs. When a period property dating back to the 17th century came available within a stone’s throw of the main school, the Eagle House Group seized the opportunity to transform the building into a contemporary sixth form centre for their students.
Named Strawberry Lodge, the property is based in Carshalton, Sutton, South London. It was built in 1685 by clothworker, Josias Dewyn. From the outside, this beautiful property is perfectly asymmetric with bay windows either side of a central entrance door. In recent years Strawberry Lodge received a modern addition to accommodate a kitchen, large hall, washrooms and meeting room.
In the past, Strawberry Lodge has had multiple residents. It has been a meeting room and conference centre, as well as an NHS clinic.
When the Eagle House Group took the period property over, the entire building needed a full refurbishment. They were quick to assign JBH Refurbishments as their school refurbishment contractor. The JBH team were delighted to get involved in redeveloping this historic building for its new residents.
On initial inspection, it was clear that the main property and its modern extension needed a lot of attention. The décor, carpets, kitchen and washrooms were tired and dated. This soon-to-be school building needed a full strip out and fit out.
With a looming September deadline, JBH devised a schedule that would ensure the school refurbishment would be completed on time and within budget.
Pulling out all the stops, JBH started work onsite to refurbish four classrooms, three toilets and a shower room, kitchen, café, reception, entrance, hallway, stairs, office and meeting room.
Let’s take a look at the school refurbishment room by room…
The large bright rooms within the old Strawberry Lodge building presented the ideal space for four classrooms. Each received a fresh coat of paint on the walls, ceilings, coving, wooden window frames and the architraves. Special care was taken to refresh a beautiful carved full height fireplace, which was an original from the 17th century.
Typical of the period, the sash windows in each classroom offered an abundance of natural light. However, there was still a requirement to upgrade the ceiling lights in all four classrooms with contemporary LED light panels.
To complete the classrooms and communal stairwell, JBH replaced the flooring throughout.
The new look offered a fresh new space for learning, that all the new student could enjoy.
The kitchen and café were located in the new part of the building, next to a large hall, used for sporting activities and theatre productions, and a mezzanine floor that lead to a large meeting room. This spacious facility featured high ceilings and full height windows.
Although it was a new addition to the property, the kitchen and café needed a full refurbishment. Following the strip-out and making good process, JBH redecorated throughout using a combination of dove grey and white paint.
The kitchen was transformed into a light and bright space where students and teachers could prepare food and beverages. It was important to keep this area open to encourage student participation and independence.
JBH installed new kitchen appliances, including two new cookers with extraction hoods, dishwasher, fridge and freezer.
White units and worktops were combined with bright splash backs in the colours of the school logo and white hygienic cladding for optimum hygiene.
The windows were finished with a frosted vinyl to disguise the unsightly utilities outside of the property. Finally, a new non slip floor was fitted with a cap and cove system for ease of cleaning.
The café is undoubtedly the hub of this school, somewhere students can take time out to relax between lessons. The new bright kitchen, fresh décor and stylised seating area is the perfect chill-out space for the students at Eagle House Group Sixth Form Centre.
The mezzanine floor above the café, kitchen and hall has a large room with views over the ground floor level. Here, the school decided would be the ideal place for a meeting room. JBH stripped out the old flooring and redecorated throughout. Window film was fitted to the lower windows for privacy.
There were four washrooms at Strawberry Lodge, including a shower room that required extensive refurbishment.
The existing fixtures in the Ladies, Gents and DDA toilets were removed and replacing the toilets, basins and flooring. New cubicles were installed with colour co-ordinated cistern wall panelling, vanity units and upstands.
White hygienic cladding was fitted above the vanity units to protect the walls from splashes. All exposed pipework was disguised with white trunking and the windows were finished with a frost vinyl to finish the look.
In the shower room, JBH fitted a new shower and hygienic cladding on the walls. Hygienic cladding provides an impervious surface that is far easier to clean than traditional bathroom tiles.
JBH created a new office by installing a stud wall. Electrics were installed to operate the light switch and the room was fully decorated. The reception and entrance were also redecorated with dove grey paint, new flooring and the ceilings were repaired.
The adjoining corridors and staircases received a facelift too, with new flooring and decoration. In the period house, the ornate balustrade was carefully painted to retain its original features.
Strawberry Lodge has been transformed into a light, bright and all-new learning space for Eagle House Group Sixth Form Centre.
“Having a fresh environment to learn can only have a positive impact of these young adult’s lives. The simple use of colour and the abundance of natural light in both properties is exceptional,” explains Jason Hubbard, MD of JBH Refurbishments.
The London School Refurbishment was completed on time and on budget as promised. The time scale for completion was just seven weeks. As a result, Eagle House Group Sixth Form Centre opened in September as planned and welcomed the first students to Strawberry Lodge.
For more information about classroom and London school refurbishment in London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex, please contact the team at JBH Refurbishments.
